The Technology Cluster of the Toulouse Cancer Research Centre (CRTC) has been based on the Oncopole site in Toulouse since July 2014.
The decision taken by Frédéric Lopez, the Cluster Manager, to group several technology platforms so as to enable their “collegial” operation and thus the sharing of facilities and resources makes this site unique in Toulouse.
Ten engineers can offer technical skills in a broad range of areas:
– Proteomics (biochemical and mass spectrometry methods) and molecular interactions (Biacore technology)
– Flow cytometry and cell sorting
– Imaging (confocal microscope and video microscope)
– Vectorology (biosafety L3 laboratory)
– Transcriptomics
– The production of monoclonal antibodies
– Bioinformatics
– INSERM Biological Resource Centre for Blood Malignancies in the Midi-Pyrénées Region (HIMIP).
Their mission is to provide you with support for your projects regarding:
– Their design,
– The conduct of experiments,
– Training in the use of freely accessible specific equipment,
– The interpretation and presentation of results, and
– The compilation and dissemination of publications.
A Technology Watch Committee made up of engineers from the Cluster and research scientists or support staff (ITA) from CRCT teams, has the task of establishing a general strategy for the Cluster’s development (review of equipment requirements, funding, etc.).
Operation of the Technology Cluster is governed by a Charter that has been approved by the CRCT’s managers and team leaders.
Frédéric Lopez
Team leader
After a PhD in Toulouse University and a post-doctoral position at Center of Immunology in Marseille, F. Lopez has acquired, since 2001, a huge expertise in the field of Biomolecular Interaction Analysis technology and has developed the off-line coupling of BIA with mass spectrometry for the identification of interacting molecules. Head of the proteomics group since its origin in 2008, F. Lopez develops collaborations on academic programs (ANR, Inca, PHRC, EU…) and collaborative projects with non-academic teams (Roche, Urosphere…). For the group, F. Lopez is also in charge of developing industrial partnerships for technological improvement of proteomics strategies.
Contact: Frederic.Lopez@inserm.fr
Géraldine Touriol
After 14 years of professional experience in the private sector as an accountant in an accounting and auditing firm, and 12 years as the accountant of an SME, Géraldine Touriol joined INSERM in 2006 as a Research Unit Manager.
Initially attached to INSERM Unit 563, Géraldine Touriol joined the CRCT in 2011, and is now a member of its Administrative Unit led by Sébastien Guibert.
Géraldine’s mission is to manage several research teams as well as the Technology Cluster and its eight Platforms. In addition to her management activities, Géraldine also monitors implementation of the quality system and is responsible for the Cluster’s website.
Contact: geraldine.touriol@inserm.fr
Tamby Ralamboarivony
After qualifying as an ANABIOTEC Advanced Technician, Tamby joined the Biological Resource Centre in 2017. She participates in the preparation of samples from patients with malignant blood diseases and also makes these samples available for research projects.
Contact : tamby.ralamboarivony@inserm.fr
Véronique Demas
Pharmacist-Biologist, Doctor of Sciences
Véronique De Mas heads INSERM’s Biological Resource Centre (CRB) for Blood Malignancies in the Midi-Pyrénées region (HIMIP), which was set up in 1988 by Cécile Demur, a clinical pathologist. Véronique has worked on cellular and molecular haematology in a clinical setting since 1999, based in the Haematology Laboratory of Toulouse University Hospital, while her research is carried out with the CRCT team led by Stéphane Manenti. She assures the preparation of samples, their annotation and optimum conservation so that these collections will be of use to research teams, working with members of the CRB’s Scientific Advisory Board to ensure compliance with the relevant regulations.
Contact : demas.veronique@
Manon Farcé
Assistant Engineer
Manon was recruited in 2014 as a CNRS Assistant Engineer (AI) to manage the Cytometry and Cell Sorting Platform.
Before joining the Cluster, Manon worked for six months in a research team and 12 months at the Cytometry Platform of the Toulouse-Purpan Pathophysiology Centre (UMR INSERM 1043) where she consolidated her knowledge in cell biology.
Manon is also prevention assistant and responsible for the Cluster’s Biosafety L2 laboratory
Contact: manon.farce@inserm.fr
Carine Valle
Study Engineer
Having obtained a Specialised Studies Diploma (DESS) in Biotechnology, Carine worked for INSERM for six years with a research team at the Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases (I2MC), focused on obesity and the implementation of transcriptomic approaches, in the context of European projects. In collaboration with clinicians and private and public sector laboratories, she then developed a DNA chip for prognostic biomarkers in oncology, at the GeT-Biopuces Platform. Experience in the private sector enabled her to train in genomics (NGS sequencing) in the context of the provision of services and technological developments.
Carine joined the CRCT Technology Cluster in 2016 as an INSERM Study Engineer, to reinforce development of the Genomics and Transcriptomics Platform.
Contact: carine.valle@inserm.fr
Emeline Sarot
PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetics (University of Montpellier, France), Emeline Sarot focuses her career towards nucleic acids analysis. After an R&D experience in a French start-up dedicated to RNA extraction and stabilization, Emeline worked with natural history museums of Toulouse and Paris on DNA preservation in fluid collections. In 2011, she joined the team 6 in CRCT (Cancer Research Center of Toulouse) to manage a research program aimed at analyzing the “translatome” of human cells by using RNAseq techniques. Through her professional experience, Emeline developed all the expertise in the field of molecular biology. While keeping some lab research functions, Emeline integrated the Technological Pole in 2015 to manage the geno-transcriptomic platform and develop new technologies for local research teams and beyond that, all the scientific community.
Laetitia Ligat
Engineer
Graduated in Bio-engineering Master Degree and after two years of experience in a research team, Laetitia Ligat joined the group in 2011 on an European program for the establishment of peptide profiles from biological fluids (human and animal models). She is also in charge of technological approaches dedicated to the study of molecular interactions by BIA technology (Biomolecular Interaction Analysis), including measurement of affinity parameters (ka, kd, KD) between two molecular partners.
Contact: laetitia.ligat@inserm.fr
Karine Dalens
After a baccalauréat in laboratory science and technology, Karine obtained an ANABIOTEC Higher Technician’s Certificate in 2018. She completed her study attachment at the “Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas” in VIGO (Spain). The Platform will be her first professional experience and she will be providing support in the Antibody Platform.
Ouafa Boulahian-Zaki
Assistant Engineer
After obtaining a Master’s degree in biotechnology, and gaining ten years of wide-ranging experience in a Toulouse company focused in particular on the screening of banks of antibody fragments by phage-display, Ouafa joined the CRCT in 2013 in order to carry out a variety of projects on the production of mouse monoclonal antibodies.
These different projects are being implemented in close collaboration with the IUC-T Pathological Anatomy Platform.
Contact: ouafa.zaki@inserm.fr
Frédéric Pont
PhD, Engineer
Graduated as an engineer in biochemistry from INSA Lyon and a PhD on the analysis of lipoprotein kinetics by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GCC-IRMS), Frederic Pont was responsible for the mass spectrometry section of INSERM in Toulouse for 10 years, during which he has supported projects involving mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), 1D/2D liquid chromatography and bioinformatics. He develops all these technologies in the group as part of proteomics.
Contact: frederic.pont@inserm.fr
Frédéric Lopez
Team leader
After a PhD in Toulouse University and a post-doctoral position at Center of Immunology in Marseille, F. Lopez has acquired, since 2001, a huge expertise in the field of Biomolecular Interaction Analysis technology and has developed the off-line coupling of BIA with mass spectrometry for the identification of interacting molecules. Head of the proteomics group since its origin in 2008, F. Lopez develops collaborations on academic programs (ANR, Inca, PHRC, EU…) and collaborative projects with non-academic teams (Roche, Urosphere…). For the group, F. Lopez is also in charge of developing industrial partnerships for technological improvement of proteomics strategies.
Contact: Frederic.Lopez@inserm.fr
Nathalie Saint-Laurent
Engineer
Originally from a research team, Nathalie Saint-Laurent has joined the Proteomics group in 2009, after developing a strong expertise in many laboratory techniques. Trained in techniques of protein biochemistry, N. Saint-Laurent supports delivery projects or collaborations that rely heavily on methods of biochemistry and more specifically to the 2D-DIGE. In charge of quality management in the group, she will follow procedures with respect of our commitments to meet the requirement of our partners and satisfy your requests.
Contact: nathalie.saint-laurent@inserm.fr
Laetitia Ligat
Engineer
Graduated in Bio-engineering Master Degree and after two years of experience in a research team, Laetitia Ligat joined the group in 2011 on an European program for the establishment of peptide profiles from biological fluids (human and animal models). She is also in charge of technological approaches dedicated to the study of molecular interactions by BIA technology (Biomolecular Interaction Analysis), including measurement of affinity parameters (ka, kd, KD) between two molecular partners.
Contact: laetitia.ligat@inserm.fr
Tiphaine FRAINEAU
Tiphaine was recruited in 2015 for a post attached to Université Paul Sabatier to participate in logistical management of the Vectorology Platform based at both the Rangueil site and within the CRCT Technology Cluster. She also ensures application of the Platform’s cloning strategies in response to specific demands from users.
After a Master’s 2 degree in Bioengineering, Tiphaine gained her initial skills in the fields of fluorescence microscopy, image analysis and cell culture by working for more than three years in a research team, before joining the Vectorology Platform.
Contact : tiphaine.fraineau@inserm.fr
Loïc Van Den Berghe
PhD, Study Engineer
Having acquired experience in the production of lentiviral vectors during a post-doctoral attachment at the Necker Faculty in Paris, Loïc Van Den Berghe completed special training in biosafety laboratories, organised by the Pasteur Institute in Lille. After ten years of managing a biosafety L3 laboratory at the Rangueil Faculty of Medicine, he is now responsible for the Toulouse Vectorology Platform, which includes two L3 laboratories (in Rangueil and the Oncopôle) and an L2 laboratory. He places his expertise at the service of the scientific community by organising tailor-made training courses and managing a “personalised” service for the production of different viral vectors
Contact: louis.vandenberghe@inserm.fr
Christèle Ségura
Assistant Engineer
After obtaining an Advanced Studies Diploma (DEA) in 1995 at the Faculty of Medicine in St. Etienne, Christèle Ségura acquired skills in the fields of morphophysiology, cell culture and molecular biology. After 2003, Christèle participated actively in setting up and developing the first Vectorology Platform on the Rangueil site, and subsequently the Platform for the CRCT Technology Cluster.
With some ten years of experience in this field, Christèle Segura now manages the production platform for viral vectors, the training of those using the biosafety level 3 laboratory (for the use and production of viral vectors), the tailor-made production of viral vectors and the establishment of cell lines by these vectors.
As the Platform’s Prevention Officer, Christèle has completed numerous training courses and ensures correct operation of the L3 laboratories in complete compliance with current standards.
Contact: christele.segura@inserm.fr
