Chantal Pichon, Professor at the University of Orléans practicing at the Molecular Biophysics Center, is one of the 164 appointed to the Institut Universitaire de France (IUF) by the Minister of Higher Education and Research.

Chantal Pichon has been appointed Senior Member under the Innovation Chair of the Institut universitaire de France from October 1, 2022, for a period of 5 years.

The Institut Universitaire de France's mission is to promote the development of high-level research in universities and to strengthen interdisciplinarity.

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Research interests

C. Pichon is conducting interdisciplinary projects based on chemistry and molecular and cell biology with a crosstalk between basic and applied researches. C. Pichon’s main research activities are dedicated mainly to the use of nucleic acids as therapeutics. These last years, she is particularly interested in messenger RNAs vaccines and therapeutics. She is developing innovative formulations for their delivery for various applications: mucosal vaccination, cell-based therapies and protein replacement therapy. C. Pichon has patented mRNA bioproduction technology based on a tailor-made yeast-based mRNA factory platform, a complete shift of paradigm compared to in vitro production and a revolutionary new use of yeast. She envisions to build an economically sustainable biotechnology process for production of high-quality mRNA therapeutics opening their use in different applications. Social disparities between and within European countries and all over the world are negatively associated with access to new biopharmaceuticals as mRNAs.