Researchers

Dr Pierre-Simon Bellaye obtained his PhD in Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology in 2013 from the University of Burgundy. His work, in Dr Carmen Garrido and Pr Philippe Bonniaud’s INSERM team, demonstrated the role of the heat shock proteins in pleuro-pulmonary fibrosis. He then completed a 3-year post-doctoral fellowship in Prof. Martin Kolb’s team at McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. His work focused on studying the role of extracellular HSP90 protein in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Since 2017 he has been in charge of academic research at IMATHERa, where he works on the development of theranostic agents for the diagnosis/therapy of various cancers and other diseases. His work has led to the preclinical validation of companion agents and internal vectorized radiotherapy agents for the detection/treatment of colorectal and breast cancers.

In parallel, Dr. Bellaye has demonstrated his ability to manage ambitious translational research projects through the award in 2020 of an ANR young investigator (HYMAGE-IPF, ANR-20-CE17-0005) aiming at developing companion agents targeting hypoxia and macrophages in preclinical models of pulmonary fibrosis. In addition, the hypoxia-targeting companion agent validated as part of the HYMAGE-IPF project is currently being evaluated in humans (first inclusion in March 2023) in a pilot clinical study (FIPOXY) conducted jointly by the CGFL (PI Dr C. Drouet and Dr PS. Bellaye) and Dijon University Hospital (PI Dr G. Beltramo).

He holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology under the supervision of Dr. Carmen Garrido at the University of Burgundy, Dijon. His doctoral research focused on the role of GroEL, a protein secreted by probiotics, in preventing colon inflammation. In the course of this research, he acquired expertise in 
macrophages. 
For this work, he was awarded grants from the Ligue Contre le Cancer and the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale. He then pursued a postdoctoral fellowship in Cell and Molecular Biology, also under the supervision of Dr. Carmen Garrido at the University of Burgundy, Dijon, where he studied the mechanism of action by which the GroEL protein, derived from the Lactobacillus reuteri strain, exerts its anti-inflammatory effect. Following his academic research, he worked as a Project Manager in Cell and Molecular Biology in the In Vitro Department at Silab, where he managed projects and screened active molecules on in vitro skin tissue models (keratinocytes, fibroblasts). 
He is currently the Head of the In Vitro department of the Platform IMATHERA at the Georges-François Leclerc Center, where he develops theranostic agents for metastatic cancers (SPECT/PET), with expertise in macrophage biology and flow cytometry. He has successfully secured two major grants: the ANR EITHER2BC project and the FEDER i-NanoT project.

Dr Alan Courteau obtained two MSc degrees in Radiation Physics and Medical Physics before completing a PhD during which he contributed to the development and validation of the world’s first fully integrated preclinical PET/MR imaging system equipped with a 7 T dry magnet.
Since 2014, he has collaborated with several cancer research centres and universities in Toulouse, Montpellier and Dijon, contributing to international projects.
He works as a research scientist in the Nuclear Medicine Department of CGFL, while also holding a permanent position at the University of Burgundy’s Institute of Molecular Chemistry. He regularly lectures at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of the University of Burgundy and at the National Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (INSTN). He supervises the work of several students and doctoral candidates.
His research projects focus on quantitative PET/MR imaging, dosimetry of targeted radionuclide therapies and biophysical evaluation of radiolabelled molecules and nanoprobes. He is co-supervising the FEDER i-NanoT project (2025-2028, 2.6 M€ for CGFL).

Alex Helbling obtained his Master of Science in biology with dual skills in project management, “Management and Innovation in Biotechnology” from University of Burgundy in 2019.

After graduating, he joined the CGFL preclinical imaging plateform as project manager to strengthen the fee for services activity in oncology. In parallel, Alex Helbling is closely involved in the ISO9001 certification of the IMATHERA team.

Since 2023, he is chief operating officer of Pharmimage, an extension of the IMATHERA laboratory.

He supervises the overall operational running of the site, coordinates the various studies (services and R&D) conducted, and manages research and fee-for services projects in oncology.