Eric Marsault

Biography

Eric Marsault, Ph.D., Professor, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, University of Sherbrooke Eric Marsault studied chemistry at Ecole Superieure de Chimie Organique et Minerale (ESCOM) in Paris and at Universite Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI), then obtained a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from McGill university under the direction of the late Pr George Just in 1996, where he worked on an asymmetric synthesis of DNA phosphorothioates. Following an 18-month period as a visiting scientist with Sanofi (Milan), he joined the lab of Pierre Deslongchamps in Sherbrooke for postdoc (1998-2000), working on the transannular iels-Alder strategy for synthesis of diterpene-like products. He then joined the recently incorporated Neokimia (which became Tranzyme Pharma in 2004) as a scientist (2000), then group leader (2001-2006) then director of medicinal chemistry (2006-8). During these years of construction and intense development of the company, he had the opportunity to develop his skills in combinatorial chemistry, medicinal chemistry and drug discovery, assuming responsibilities in platform development, medicinal chemistry, lead optimization and manufacturing which led to the discovery of several preclinical macrocyclic candidates on G protein-coupled receptor targets, two of which reached clinical phases 2 and 3 for gastro-intestinal disorders. In 2009, he joined Universite de Sherbrooke (Dpt of Pharmacology) as associate professor and opened a medicinal chemistry lab at the Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke (IPS). His lab, which now includes 18 students, focuses on the use of small molecules to validate emerging biological targets, and functions in a highly collaborative way in which there is always a partner from pharmacology, physiology, biology or medicine. This exposes students to an interdisciplinary environment and gives them access to complementary expertise in terms of mentoring. His works have lead to several collaborations with pharmas, including the first investment of the recently founded Neomed on the development of host-based inhibitors against influenza. He is co-author of over 30 research papers and co-inventor of over 35 patent applications. Since 2013, he is director of the FRQS-funded Reseau Quebecois de Recherche sur le Medicament (www.rqrm.ca) and director of the Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke www.usherbrooke.ca/ips).

Research Interest

 Microbiology