Denis Bertin

Vice-President of the A*Midex Foundation, Director of MIB

Marseille Immunology Biocluster, France

After completing a PhD in polymer sciences in 1997 at the University of Montpellier, Denis Bertin joined the petrochemical company TOTAL as a research and development engineer in Materials Sciences where he stayed until 2000. He then joined Aix-Marseille University to develop a mixed academic/industrial research group on material sciences at the Faculty of Science of AMU. He became a university professor in 2002. He has worked on nanostructured organic materials with various applications (health, environment, energy, sport, etc.). After 14 years at the Faculty of Science, after retraining in sports sciences, he joined the Faculty of Sports Science (2014) and the Institute of Movement Science. In 2023, a new research unit, Hipe Human Lab, was established under the leadership of D. Bertin to expand projects focusing on research involving human body. On the political aspects, D. Bertin was vice president for research from 2006 to 2015. In 2016, he became Vice President in charge of the Amidex fondation. He is also President of the Imera Institute for Advanced Studies from 2018.

The Marseille Immunology Biocluster (MIB) project is firmly rooted in the dynamic South region and metropolitan area. It is now one of the most promising initiatives in the field of immunology in France. The result of close collaboration between academia, industry and public authorities, the MIB is part of a strategic vision that has already elevated research and innovation to an international level. This collaboration between universities, public research institutions, biotech firms, industry, local authorities and public bodies – supported by Aix-Marseille University and its partners – means that the MIB benefits from a rich and diverse academic environment of excellence, fostering synergy between fundamental research and practical applications on an industrial scale.

This alliance between academic knowledge and entrepreneurial dynamism lies at the heart of the MIB’s philosophy and positions it as a one-stop shop in the field of immunology, offering an integrated platform for research, innovation and commercial development.

The creation of the MIB marks a crucial step in strengthening immunological research in France, by concentrating expertise, innovation, resources and collaboration in Marseille, positioning the city and France as one of the centers of excellence in the patient-centered fight against infectious, autoimmune, oncological and inflammatory diseases.

Dr. Lídia Aguilera Martínez

Director of Innovation

CaixaResearch Institute, Spain

Dr. Lídia Aguilera Martínez is Director of Innovation at the newly established CaixaResearch Institute, where she leads strategy and activities related to knowledge transfer, competitive funding, entrepreneurship, partnerships, and the societal impact of research. With extensive international experience in innovation management and knowledge transfer, she and her team work closely with researchers to translate scientific discoveries into real‑world solutions that benefit health systems and society.

The CaixaResearch Institute is a newly established research centre and the first in Spain dedicated exclusively to immunology. Its mission is to understand how the immune system functions and how it contributes to major diseases such as cancer, neurological disorders, and infections, while also considering the impact of environmental factors. Research is structured around three core scientific axes—exposomic sciences, immunology and disease, and systems immunology and engineering—supported by transversal programmes that promote interdisciplinarity, technological innovation, and agile responses to emerging health challenges. In parallel, the Institute is developing an Innovation Hub that works closely with six other research centres to accelerate knowledge transfer, foster collaboration, and ensure that scientific advances translate into tangible benefits for society.

PD Dr. Epameinondas Gousopoulos MD PhD

Plastic & Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeon & Co-Founder IRÄYE AG

Switzerland

PD Dr. Epameinondas Gousopoulos is a physician-scientist and EBOPRAS-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon based at the University Hospital Zurich, where he combines clinical practice with translational research in lymphatic and adipose tissue biology. His work focuses on the role of the lymphatic vascular system in human health and disease, particularly in conditions such as lymphedema, lipedema, tissue regeneration, and skin ageing.

Dr. Gousopoulos conducted his medical studies in Greece, followed by a Master`s degree at the University of Zurich and his doctoral research (PhD) at ETH Zurich on lymphatic vascular biology and inflammation, contributing to pioneering work demonstrating how immune responses influence lymphatic dysfunction and chronic tissue swelling. His research integrates microsurgery, vascular biology, and translational medicine with the aim of developing novel therapies targeting lymphatic function.

Beyond academia, he actively bridges biomedical research and innovation. He is co-founder of the ETH spin-off IRÄYE, which develops science-driven skincare technologies designed to activate the lymphatic system and support metabolic waste clearance in the skin. Dr. Gousopoulos has authored numerous scientific publications and collaborates internationally across clinical, academic, and industry networks. His work highlights the emerging importance of the lymphatic system not only in disease treatment but also in longevity, regenerative medicine, and next-generation skincare technologies.

Mauri Kotamäki

Chief Economist

Finnvera, Finland

Dr. Mauri Kotamäki is the chief economist of Finnvera. Finnvera is a specialised financing company owned by the State of Finland and it is the official Export Credit Agency (ECA) of Finland. Mauri’s previous work history includes, for example, Ministry of Finance and Bank of Finland. Currently he’s pondering matters of economic growth, investments and exporting within the Finnish corporate financing framework.

Motto: All models are wrong, but some are useful.

Pekka Simula

Entrepreneur & Mentor, Health & Life Sciences

Pekka Simula has spent over 25 years with innovative startups in health and life sciences, including digitalization of data capture in clinical trials, cancer radiotherapy, and as founder and CEO in oncology and CNS drug development companies. Pekka has actively supported health & life science teams as mentor and board member and IPO’d two companies. He loves working with passionate founders who want to change the world for the better.

Timo Veromaa

MD PhD, Professor of Practice in Drug Development

University of Turku, Finland

Timo Veromaa is an accomplished MD PhD biopharma executive with 30 years of industry experience across both large and small cap companies in the US and Europe. He is Professor of Practice in Drug Development (part-time) at his alma mater, the University of Turku, Finland.

His passion lies in developing new medicines and fostering innovation through industry–academia partnerships. He is dedicated to helping scientists build and develop business skills, and he is particularly excited about the significant opportunities for groundbreaking medical innovation by combining health registry, biobank, and genome data. As the first chairman of Finnish Biobanks FINBB, he was instrumental in supporting the development of the FINGENIOUS portal as a one-stop access point to nationwide biobank data and electronic health records.

Currently, Timo Veromaa serves as the Chairman of Herantis Pharma Plc, a public, innovative drug development company focusing on Parkinson’s disease. He is also the Chairman of Tenboron Ltd, a private clinical-stage company developing novel boron carriers for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). Additionally, he is a board member of Abomics Ltd, a private company offering pharmacogenomic services to healthcare organizations. Previously, he served as the Chairman of Finnish Bioindustries, an industry association, for nine years. He also held the position of Executive Chairman at Domainex Ltd, a fast-growing private drug discovery service company in Cambridge, UK, for two years.

Professor Klaus Elenius

Professor of Medical Biochemistry & Scientific Director of BioCity Turku

University of Turku, Finland

Professor Klaus Elenius earned both an MD and a PhD from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Turku. He completed postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School and, since 1998, has led a research laboratory at the University of Turku. He is currently Professor of Medical Biochemistry at the University of Turku and serves as Scientific Director of BioCity Turku.

The research of Elenius lab has focused on the role of growth factor signaling in cancer for over 30 years. This has included identification of novel signaling molecules and development of new predictive and therapeutic tools for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases. The translational research has been complemented by participation in clinical trials.

Prof. Elenius has experience in application of technology solutions for medical practice as a co-founder of Abomics Ltd. He has also frequently served as a consultant for and has had research agreements with major pharmaceutical companies developing targeted cancer therapies. He served as a Board Member of Research Council of Finland, Cancer Foundation Finland, Finnish Medical Foundation, and Biocenter Finland. Prof. Elenius is currently a Distinguished Innovator of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative.