Fulvio Mavilio, the internationally acknowledged expert in gene therapy for rare diseases, is appointed as Genethon’s new Scientific Director

Fulvio Mavilio, PhD is appointed as the new Scientific Director of Généthon.

Fulvio Mavilio, PhD (aged 58), an international acknowledged expert and pioneer in gene therapy for rare diseases for more than twenty years, was appointed as the new Scientific Director of Généthon (the not-for-profit biotherapy lab funded by the French Muscular Dystrophy Association (AFM) with donations from France’s annual Telethon) on January 1st, 2012. He succeeds Philippe Moullier (Director of the INSERM 649 Viral Vectors and in vivo Gene Transfer Unit in Nantes, France), who had held the position since January 2009. Philippe Moullier remains a special advisor to the management and will continue his commitment to several of Généthon’s scientific projects.

As a molecular biologist-geneticist by training, Fulvio Mavilio started to focus on hematology and thus blood diseases in the early 1980s. In the 1990s, his work gave rise to the worldwide first-in-man trial of stem cell gene therapy for the treatment of a rare immunodeficiency (ADA-SCID). His belief in the long-term value of gene therapy prompted him to co-found the San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (HSR-TIGET). He also cofounded the gene therapy company GenEra S.p.A., who later merged into Molmed S.p.A. (a biotech company specializing in innovative cancer therapies) where he served as Director of R&D. He was also involved in setting up the University of Modena’s Center for Regenerative Medicine.

Fulvio Mavilio commented that “Généthon is a world-famous benchmark organization that offers unique opportunities in gene therapy for rare diseases. With highly skilled, multidisciplinary research groups and Généthon BioProd (the world largest facility for product gene-based drugs), joining Généthon constitutes an extremely stimulating challenge!”.

“We are delighted to welcome Fulvio to Généthon. His unique experience and international stature constitute significant assets for developing Généthon-led projects and making a success of the missions entrusted to us by Telethon donors and the AFM” added Généthon Chief Executive Frédéric Revah. “I heartily thank Philippe Moullier for his exception contribution over the last three years. Généthon will continue to work closely with him in his new role”.

Key dates in Fulvio Mavilio’s career

• 1995: publication of the results of the gene therapy trial in ADA-SCID (a rare blood disease).
• 1996: creation of the San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (HSR-TIGET).
• 1997: publication of the results of the gene therapy trial for graft-versus-host disease (a severe complication of bone marrow transplantation).
• 2006: publication of the results of the gene therapy trial for epidermolysis bullosa (a rare skin disease).
• 2012 (January 1): appointed as Scientific Director of Généthon (Evry, France)