Dr. Gérard Mathis

Bridging the Gap Between the Bench and the Bedside: From Academia to the Real World
A scientific and technological challenge, and a human adventure

Abstract

The original idea and the subsequent fruitful collaboration with Lehn’s laboratory (1) for the synthesis of luminescent lanthanide cryptates were only the first step of an ambitious project aimed at revolutionizing immunoassays and in vitro diagnostics.

A set of innovative technologies — including TRACE®/HTRF® (Homogeneous Time-Resolved Fluorescence Energy Transfer) — were developed in-house and patented for this purpose(2). In parallel, a dedicated, fully automated instrument for in vitro diagnostic applications was also engineered.

Along this journey, numerous technical, human, and financial challenges had to be overcome in order to reach the initial objectives.

The tools and technologies originally developed for diagnostic applications were subsequently adapted and extended to investigate biomolecular interactions in the emerging field of High-Throughput Screening within the pharmaceutical industry. State-of-the-art cellular assays and suicide-enzyme–based technologies were developed,(3) enabling the growth of our business and establishing our company as a recognized leader in the field.

This remarkable journey was made possible only thanks to a deep collaboration between chemists, physical chemists and biologists, the contributions of many academic, scientists from our customers and biotechnology partners, highlighting the essential role of technology transfer between academia and industry.

References

1. Alpha B, Lehn J.M, Mathis G. « Energy Transfer Luminescence of Europium (III) and Terbium (III) Cryptates of Macrobicyclic Polypyridine Ligands » Angewandte Chemie Int. Ed. 1987, 26, n° 3, 266

2. Mathis G. Rare Earth Cryptates and Homogeneous Fluoroimmunoassays with Human Sera. Clin Chem 1993, 39, n° 9, 1953-1959

3. J.Zwier, H.Bazin, L.Lamarque, G.Mathis : Luminescent lanthanide cryptates: from the bench to the bedside.J. Inorg. Chem 2014 p1854-1866

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Organizer  Giulio RAGAZZON