A state-qualified medical oncologist, Dr Lauris Gastaud initially specialised in onco-haematology, which involves treating blood cancers specifically. At the Nice Department of Onco-Ophthalmology (DOON), he monitors patients with ocular cancers during their initial treatment, in order to assess the risk of metastases and define the methods and frequency of subsequent monitoring, as well as at advanced stages when metastases occur.

Dr Gastaud holds a Diplôme Universitaire de Médecine d’Urgence (2003), a Diplôme Universitaire de Cancérologie (2006), and a Diplôme d’Etat de Docteur en Médecine (2006) from Nice University.

Dr Gastaud is the author of over 67 publications. He has participated in numerous clinical trials, including in Uveal Melanoma.

Dr Sergio Roman-Roman heads the Translational Research Department at the Institut Curie in Paris (France). His is a specialist in uveal melanoma.

He obtained his PharmD and PhD degrees from the University of Granada (Spain). Before joining the Institut Curie in 2007, he held positions in both the academic world (Institut Gustave-Roussy) and private companies (Roussel-Uclaf, Aventis, Proskelia Pharmaceuticals and Galapagos).

He is the author or co-author of more than 150 peer-reviewed articles (h-index 61). His research interests focus on translational oncology (biomarkers, target identification/validation, preclinical evaluation).

At the Institut Curie, he coordinates a multidisciplinary group of scientists and doctors dedicated to research into uveal melanoma. Sergio is currently Director of the Curie SIRIC.

Pr Stéphanie Baillif is head of the ophthalmology department at the Pasteur 2 hospital in Nice (France). She holds a professorship in ophthalmology at the Nice Faculty of Medicine.

She specialises in medical and surgical diseases of the retina. In ocular oncology, Professor Stéphanie Baillif is President of the Nice Department of Onco-Ophthalmology (DOON). She deals with surgery to remove ocular melanomas after proton therapy (endoresection) and radiation maculopathy (oedema of the macula after proton therapy).

Pr Baillif holds a DEA in Medical and Biological Engineering (2004), a state diploma in medicine (2005), a DES in Ophthalmology (2005), a doctorate in Life and Health Sciences (2008) from Claude Bernard Lyon University, European Board of Ophthalmology (2013) and Habilitation à Diriger les Recherches (2014) from Nice University.

Pr Baillif is the author of over 139 publications. She has participated in and directed numerous clinical trials in ophthalmology.

Dr Olivier Loget is CEO and founder of CapEval.

Dr Oliver Loget as more than 30 years of experience in pharma industry. He is Expert in Non-clinical safety and toxicology studies, Expert in drug development from clinical candidate selection through to entry into human.

His is Eurotox Registered Toxicologist, President of International Society of ocular Toxicology. Dr. Loget is a lecturer teaching preclinical R&D, toxicology in drug development and ocular examination in several Research Institutes (INSERM, INRA), Universities and Veterinary Schools.

Dr. Arnaud Jacquel is a full researcher at Inserm U1065, also known as the Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire (C3M) in Nice, France. He obtained his PhD in cellular and molecular biology in 2005 from the Université Côte d’Azur, followed by two post-doctorates at Inserm U866 in Dijon (2006-2009) and Inserm U895 in Nice (2009-2012). In 2013, he joined Inserm U1065 as a full researcher and obtained his habilitation to direct research (HDR) in 2018.

His research focuses on the study of immunosuppressive myeloid cells, such as leukemia-associated macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), in hematological malignancies such as acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. The aim is to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the generation of these cells in order to develop new therapeutic strategies.

Dr Jacquel is also a member of the scientific committee of the Cancéropôle Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.

His areas of expertise include immunology, biology and biochemistry, with a particular focus on innate immunity, hematology and oncology.

Dr. Patrick Auberger is Director of Research at the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research (Inserm), and heads the “Innovative Therapies in Myeloid Leukemias” team (INOVTEAM) at the Mediterranean Center for Molecular Medicine (C3M) in Nice, France.

Research focuses on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the physiological and pathological differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells, with particular emphasis on cells of the myeloid lineage. he main objective is to propose new therapeutic opportunities for incurable myeloid hemopathies such as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML).

Dr Auberger has contributed to research on topics such as apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, oxidative stress, differentiation and reprogramming of myeloid cells. His team is also studying the role of lysosomes in the initiation and acutization of MDS and AML, as well as the development of innovative chemotherapies.

During the course of his career, he has published over 320 scientific articles and been cited more than 26,000 times, reflecting the significant impact of his research in the field of hematology and oncology.

Dr Andreas Bikfalvi is Professor of Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Bordeaux, France and Director of INSERM Unit U1029, specialising in angiogenesis and the tumour microenvironment.

After obtaining his medical degree in 1983 from the Université de Bretagne Occidentale, he pursued a residency in haematology and oncology at the University of Kiel in Germany, before obtaining his doctorate in 1989 from the Université Paris VII. He then carried out post-doctoral research at INSERM and the New York University Medical Centre. In 1995, he joined the University of Bordeaux as a full professor.

His research focuses on angiogenesis, the biology of growth factors and the role of the tumour microenvironment in cancer progression, with the aim of identifying new therapeutic targets.

During the course of his career, Dr Bikfalvi has published over 345 scientific articles and been cited more than 12 000 times, reflecting the significant impact of his research in the field of cancer progression and angiogenesis.

Dr. Violaine Desort-Hénin is a Senior Medical Consultant for Biotech and Big Pharma aiming to transform proof of concept to reality with agility and consolidated development.

Dr Desort-Hénin is specialist in Translational Medicine from efficacy animal models, regulatory toxicology to Human Clinical Trials up to phase IV and Pharmacovigilance through all phases of development : proof-of-concepts in animals and humans, regulatory filing from public health concerns to orphan designations OMPD and ODD, agencies scientific advices and presentations.

She received extensive training at École Nationale Vétérinaire de Lyon, where she earned her DEFV between 1999 and 2003. She also completed a DIUE in Medical Lasers at the Grange-Blanche Faculty of Medicine in 2003-2004.

Professionally, Dr. Desort-Hénin has worked as a veterinarian in various clinics. In 2015, she was appointed Clinical Director at Eyevensys, an innovative company specializing in ophthalmic therapies, where she was responsible for developing the company’s clinical program.

Dr. Desort-Hénin is recognized for her deep understanding of the pathophysiology of ocular diseases and her expertise in clinical development. She has been involved in all phases of drug development up to Phase III and has contributed to the design of strategic international programs.

Dr. Arun D. Singh is a renowned ophthalmologist and the Director of the Department of Ophthalmic Oncology at the Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. He also serves as a Professor of Ophthalmology and is the Editor-in-Chief of “Ocular Oncology and Pathology”.

Dr. Singh earned his medical degree (MD) from the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research in Pondicherry, India. He pursued further training in ophthalmology in the United Kingdom and completed a fellowship in ocular oncology at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, USA. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in London and is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Specializing in ophthalmic tumors in both adults and children, his research focuses on uveal melanoma, retinoblastoma genetics, retinal capillary hemangioma, and von Hippel-Lindau disease. Dr. Singh is a prolific researcher with over 300 peer-reviewed scientific publications and has edited several key textbooks in the field. His contributions to ophthalmology have been recognized with an Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Beyond his clinical and research work, Dr. Singh is an active member of the academic and professional ophthalmic community. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the “British Journal of Ophthalmology” and a member of various prestigious organizations, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the International Society for Genetic Eye Diseases, the International Retinoblastoma Society, the Macula Society, the Vitreous Society, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, and the Jules Gonin Club. He also serves as the Secretary of the International Society of Ocular Oncology.

Through his extensive clinical, research, and educational activities, Dr. Singh continues to make significant contributions to the field of ophthalmology, particularly in retinal diseases and ocular oncology.

Professor Thibaud Mathis is a renowned ophthalmologist specializing in retinal diseases.

He practices at the ophthalmology department of the Croix-Rousse Hospital, affiliated with the Hospices Civils de Lyon. He is President of the French Retina Society.

Pr Mathis is also involved in research within the “Inflammation and Immunology in Retinal Diseases” team at the Institut de la Vision. His research focuses on new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for AMD, including innovative treatments and prevention strategies.

He is the author of over 180 scientific publications and has been cited more than 1,800 times in specialized journals. His expertise is internationally recognized, and he is regularly consulted by pharmaceutical companies such as Allergan, Bayer, and Novartis.

Pr Mathis actively contributes to the advancement of ophthalmology, participating in clinical trials and publishing articles on topics such as optical coherence tomography angiography and anatomical prognostic factors in retinal disorders.

Pr Frédéric Mouriaux is head of the ophthalmology department at Rennes University Hospital (France). He holds a professorship in ophthalmology at the University of Rennes Faculty of Medicine and is an associate professor at the University Ophthalmology Center of Quebec (Canada).

He specialises in orbital, eyelid, and lacrimal diseases, ocular oncology, and neuro-ophthalmology. Professor Mouriaux is recognised for his expertise in the management of ocular tumours, including melanomas, and for his contributions to multidisciplinary oncological care.

Pr Mouriaux trained in ophthalmology at Lille University, followed by subspecialty training in oculoplastics at the Fondation Ophtalmologique Rothschild (Paris). He became head of service at the Lens Hospital before his appointment as Professor of Ophthalmology at the University Hospital of Caen in 2003, and later at Rennes in 2014. He has been head of the Rennes ophthalmology department since 2016.

Pr Mouriaux is the author of numerous scientific publications and actively participates in national and international research networks in ocular oncology and oculoplastics. He is regularly invited to lecture at international congresses and collaborates with pharmaceutical and academic partners in translational and clinical research.