Pascal Mayer

Pascal Mayer was born in 1963 in Moselle, where he grew up. He graduated in 1988 with a Master's degree (DEA) in Molecular Biology from the Louis Pasteur University{{Cite journal |last=Daune |first=Geneviève |date=14 September 2021 |title=Pascal Mayer, ancien étudiant de l'université de Strasbourg et biophysicien, reçoit le Breakthrough Prize |url=https://www.dna.fr/sante/2021/09/14/pascal-mayer-ancien-etudiant-de-l-universite-de-strasbourg-et-biophysicien-recoit-le-breakthrough-prize |journal=DNA}} of Strasbourg, where he obtained his PhD in Macromolecular Biophysics in 1991

His thesis was devoted to the development of an automated apparatus for measuring electrical birefringence on gel and to the experimental study of DNA dynamics during pulsed-field electrophoresis.

From 1991 to 1994, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Ottawa (Canada) where he demonstrated how a new method for separating DNA in free solution could significantly improve DNA sequencing methods.

During a second postdoctoral fellowship at the Paul Pascal Research Center of the CNRS, from 1994 to 1996, he invented a method and wrote software to analyze video-microscopy images of blurred moving objects (DNA molecules) using spatio-temporal correlation maps.

In November 1996, he joined the GlaxoSmithKline group in Geneva, where his work led to the filing of patents revealing the new method of massive parallel DNA sequencing, subsequently acquired by the British company Solexa created by Shankar Balasubramanian and David Klenerman, whose start-up was ultimately acquired by Illumina.{{Cite web |title=History of Illumina Sequencing & Solexa Technology |url=https://emea.illumina.com/science/technology/next-generation-sequencing/illumina-sequencing-history.html |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=emea.illumina.com}} These patents have enabled the creation of a rapid, robust and inexpensive DNA sequencing technique (one day and around $600 for the resequencing of a complete human genome), which is now used on a large scale. In this respect, Pascal Mayer received the Breakthrough Prize in life sciences category in 2022 (alongside these two British scientists){{Cite web |title=Breakthrough Prize – Winners Of The 2022 Breakthrough Prizes In Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics And Mathematics Announced |url=https://breakthroughprize.org/News/65 |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=breakthroughprize.org |language=en}} and the Canada Gairdner International Award in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Foundation |first=The Gairdner |date=2024-05-08 |title=Pascal Mayer |url=https://www.gairdner.org/winner/pascal-mayer |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=The Gairdner Foundation |language=en}} This technology enabled the rapid sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19){{Cite web |last=France |first=Centre |date=2021-09-13 |title=Sciences - Sa technologie a permis d'identifier le Covid-19 : un Puydômois lauréat d'un prestigieux prix américain |url=https://www.lamontagne.fr/riom-63200/economie/sa-technologie-a-permis-d-identifier-le-covid-19-un-puydomois-laureat-d-un-prestigieux-prix-americain_14011402/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=www.lamontagne.fr}} in 2020 and the regular monitoring of genetic mutations of the different variants.

In 2014, he co-founded the company [https://www.alphanosos.com/ Alphanosos], located in Riom (Auvergne). In his company he has made several developments so far :

• anti-coronavirus SARS-CoV2,{{Cite web |date=February 1, 2021 |title=Alphanosos - A major breakthrough in the fight against Covid19 |url=https://www.biopole-clermont.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2021-02-01-Alphanosos-Press-Release.pdf |website=biopole-clermont.com}}{{Cite web |title=Traitements anti Covid : une synergie végétale française très prometteuse |url=https://www.plantes-et-sante.fr/articles/covid-19/4393-traitement-anti-covid-plantes-W17P47-alphanosos |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=Plantes et Santé |language=fr}} validated in a lethal mouse model (efficacy in this model comparable to convalescent patient serum), registered as a marketed food supplement, with the aim of carrying out a clinical study. Also note in vitro activity against cold and H1N1 flu viruses.
• natural antibacterials, patented in the European Union and 15 countries including the USA, active against bacteria multiresistant to traditional antibiotics, used in dermatological products already marketed, and validated by a clinical study.
• anti-cancer{{Cite web |title=Pascal Mayer - USIAS - University of Strasbourg |url=https://www.usias.fr/en/chairs/pascal-mayer/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=www.usias.fr}} (colorectal and epidermoid) in vitro on cell lines, specific to cancer cells (no measurable effect on non-cancer cell lines), experiments carried out with EPFL.
• antibacterials based on IFRA compounds (perfume) for anti-bad odor ingredient, in partnership with Eurofragance.{{Cite web |date=November 2023 |title=Eurofragance and Alphanosos Join Forces to Address Malodors |url=https://www.biopole-clermont.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Press-Release_Eurofragance-and-Alphanosos-join-forces-23.11.2023-FINAL.docx |website=biopole-clermont.com}}
• successful technical evaluation with L'Oréal (generative AI of plant mixture extracts on dermatological application)
• dermatological application for dogs{{Cite web |last=arbios |date=2019-01-29 |title=January 2019: Alphanosos starts the commercialization of Effiskin®, the first veterinary hygiene product based around an active elaborated using Artificial Intelligence |url=https://www.arbios.org/en/january-2019-alphanosos-starts-the-commercialization-of-effiskin-the-first-veterinary-hygiene-product-based-around-an-active-elaborated-using-artificial-intelligence/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=Arbios |language=en-US}}

• 2022 : Breakthrough Prize
• 2024 : Gairdner Prize

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Category:French scientists

Category:Living people

Category:1963 births