Health, food, beauty: the biomolecules in our lives
Watch the replay of the online conference moderated by Elsa Couderc, Head of the Sciences – The Conversation France.
The research regarding molecules with interesting biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and even anticancer activity, is crucial to improve the quality of life, to increasing longevity, and to contribute to the development of an eco-responsible economy.
The IMPACT Biomolecules project of the LORRAINE UNIVERSITÉ D’EXCELLENCE aims to discover these biomolecules by developing a federative research based on 17 research laboratories and as many (19) companies.
This project brings together academic experts and industrialists involved in innovation and applied research to incorporate these biomolecules into our cosmetic products, our food and pharmaceuticals, all the while preserving their fundamental properties. This complementarity is the strength of the IMPACT Biomolecules project. It generates numerous collaborations promoting the development of the bioeconomy in major markets, such as agrochemicals, agri-food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and the medical field.
Biography of Stéphane Desobry
Stéphane Desobry, food engineer from the ENSAIA (1989) and PhD in Food Sciences from the University of Lorraine (UL-I.N.P.L., 1991).
His research focuses on food science and, more specifically, on biomolecules, preservation and packaging.
He has published more than 180 scientific articles and was coordinator of the “Impact Biomolecules 2017-21” project, which brought together 130 researchers from 18 UL laboratories. A member of the Grand East Bioeconomy Strategic Orientation Committee, he also leads the Biomolecules and Biomaterials for the Regional Bioeconomy project (3BR – 2019-23).
He is co-leader of 2 projects under-construction which should be launched in January of 2024: (i) an Interdisciplinary program, “Bioeconomy, Biomolecules Sciences and Engineering (B2SE)”, involving nearly 200 researchers, and (ii) Federation “The one Bioeconomy”, bringing together around 500 researchers and teachers in the field of bioeconomy in the Great East region.
Professor Stéphane Desobry will present the progress, benefits and prospects of IMPACT Biomolecules, a federative project of regional and European scope, with international resonance.
Biography of Sissi Miguel
Sissi Miguel is the Scientific Director of Cellengo, a subsidiary company of the Plant Advanced Technologies group, which specializes in approaches of metabolic engineering.
After her time at the university University of Burgundy and Strasbourg, she began her career as a Research & Development Engineer in the company Plant Advanced technologies (2007-2009), followed by a CIFRE thesis (2009-2013). She became head of project from 2013 to 2020.
Her field of expertise ranges from the identification and characterization of proteins and enzymes involved in the synthesis of natural compounds with high added value to the creation of new systems for the production of recombinant proteins (plants, bacteria, yeasts) through the development of industrial processes.
When Cellengo was created in 2019, her work extended to the development of metabolically engineered ingredients for the nutraceutical and cosmetics market, before she took up the position of Scientific Director in 2020.
Mrs. Sissi Miguel, Scientific Director of CELLENGO, a subsidiary of Plant Advanced Technologies, specializing in microbial fermentation, will illustrate the essential role of the partner companies.
Cellengo
Cellengo’s most industrially advanced project concerns the production, through metabolic engineering, of a plant ingredient with remarkable applications in the field of memory protection for the nutraceutical market.
At the same time, two other active ingredients intended for the cosmetics market, notably displaying strong anti-inflammatory activity, are in the final stages of development.