Eric BILLY

Born 12.12.1970 (Age : 37)

French nationality

Married, 2 children

6, rue Clémenceau

F-67730 CHATENOIS

Private Phone: +33 (0)3 88 82 47 32

Mobile Phone: +33 (0)6 11 02 78 87

Prof. Phone: +41 (0)61 696 12 25

Prof. Fax: +41 (0)61 697 39 76

Private e-mail:

Prof. e-mail:


Education

1998“The Principles of Protein Structure Using the Internet”

A BirkbeckCollege (University of London) Accredited Advanced Certificate Course.

1994Military Service – Served in the Medical Corps as Biochemist/Biologist

Hospital Lyautey, Strasbourg, France. Cloning and molecular study of the mouse opioid receptor Work performed in parallel to my military service, ESBS, Strasbourg, France

1993French Engineer degree in Biotechnology – Diplom-Biotechnologie

Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie de Strasbourg (ESBS) - Université Louis Pasteur, France. Europäische Konföderation der Oberrheinischen Universität (EUCOR)

French, German and Swiss Diploma – Lectures are alternately given in English, French and German

Postgraduate degree in Biotechnology (M.Sc.). 5 years University Degree course.

Equivalent to the British M.Sc. (Hons) in Biotechnology

Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie de Strasbourg (ESBS) - Université Louis Pasteur, France. Europäische Konföderation der Oberrheinischen Universität (EUCOR)

1990DEUG B – Biochemistry degree.

Université Claude Bernard, Lyon, France.

Language Qualifications

Frenchmother language

Englishfluent, written and spoken

Germangood working knowledge

Spanishbasic knowledge

Professional Experience

SinceScientist

2002Novartis Institute For Biomedical Research (NIBR) –Novartis Pharma Oncology

Basel, Switzerland. Group of Tobias Schmelzle.

Investigating receptor tyrosine kinases involved in oncology mechanisms in vitro for target identification and validation.

Developing siRNA/shRNA technology in vitro for target and model validations as well as transduction pathway dissection.

Managing and leading on the Oncology side an internal collaboration with Biologics (former FGA) (Patent filed in 2006, see publication list and patents for details)

Recipient of the NIBR Catalyst Award 2008

1995-Associate Scientist

2002Friedrich Miescher-Institut

Basel, Switzerland. Group Prof. Witold Filipowicz.

Investigating RNA-involving mechanisms, from mRNA splicing to rRNA processing at the protein/RNA level to the cellular level. Pioneer works on proteins and siRNA/microRNA involved in RNA interference phenomenon in mammalian cells (see publication list and patents for details).

1993Training period and Associate Scientist

SmithKline Beecham Biologicals - Preclinical Development Department (Vaccines)

Rixensart, Belgium.

Biofermentation (15 to 25 liters) and “Pilot scale” purification of proteins. Production and purification of the deleted-S1 subunit of the Pertussis toxin in apyrogenic conditions, for crystalization and determination of the neutralizing epitopes; in order to formulate a new vaccine against whooping cough.

1991Training period (twice 3 months periods)

1992Beckman Instruments France

Paris, France.

High Performance Capillary Electrophoresis – Applications in biotechnology for the analysis of biomolecules. Comparison with the HPLC techniques.

"RFLP Analysis of HLA-DPB1 Genotyping by Capillary Electrophoresis : from Laboratory Methodologies to Clinical Applications."
"Separation of Proteins by Capillary Isoelectric Focusing."

Part-time Experience

-Freelance translator/proof-reader/expert from English into French in IT andbiomedicine fieldsfor US, Italian and Indian translation companies (TechNotes, drug leaflet, drug applications, clinical trials).

-Computer Science, bioinformatics (internet, intranet, PC, Macintosh, UNIX and Silicon Graphics)

-Member of the administration/editor team of a Macintosh-dedicated website.

-Handball player, sailing and kayaking (instructor degree).

-Photography.

-Management of a study Tour in Europe on “Human Vaccines” (1993).

Publications

LaMontagne K, Littlewood-Evans A, Schnell C, O'Reilly T, Wyder L, Sanchez T, Probst B, Butler J, Wood A, Liau G, Billy E, Theuer A, Hla T, Wood J.

Antagonism of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors by FTY720 inhibits angiogenesis and tumor vascularization.
Cancer Res. 2006 Jan 1;66(1):221-31.

Zhang H, Kolb FA, Brondani V, Billy E, Filipowicz W.

Human Dicer preferentially cleaves dsRNAs at their termini without a requirement for ATP.
EMBO J. 2002 Nov 1;21(21):5875-85.

Billy E, Brondani V, Zhang H, Muller U, Filipowicz W.

Specific interference with gene expression induced by long, double-stranded RNA in mouse embryonal teratocarcinoma cell lines.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001 Dec 4;98(25):14428-33. Epub 2001 Nov 27.

Wegierski T, Billy E, Nasr F, Filipowicz W.

Bms1p, a G-domain-containing protein, associates with Rcl1p and is required for 18S rRNA biogenesis inyeast.RNA. 2001 Sep;7(9):1254-67.

Billy E, Wegierski T, Nasr F, Filipowicz W.

Rcl1p, the yeast protein similar to the RNA 3'-phosphate cyclase, associates with U3 snoRNP and is required for 18S rRNA biogenesis.EMBO J. 2000 May 2;19(9):2115-26.

Palm GJ, Billy E, Filipowicz W, Wlodawer A.

Crystal structure of RNA 3'-terminal phosphate cyclase, a ubiquitous enzyme with unusual topology.
Structure. 2000 Jan 15;8(1):13-23.

Billy E, Hess D, Hofsteenge J, Filipowicz W.

Characterization of the adenylation site in the RNA 3'-terminal phosphate cyclase from Escherichia coli.
J Biol Chem. 1999 Dec 3;274(49):34955-60.

Filipowicz W, Billy E, Drabikowski K, Genschik P.

Cyclases of the 3'-terminal phosphate in RNA: a new family of RNA processing enzymes conserved in eucarya, bacteria and archaea.Acta Biochim Pol. 1998;45(4):895-906. Review.

Genschik P, Billy E, Swianiewicz M, Filipowicz W.

The human RNA 3'-terminal phosphate cyclase is a member of a new family of proteins conserved in Eucarya,Bacteria and Archaea.EMBO J. 1997 May 15;16(10):2955-67.

Patents

  • A patent has been filed in May 2006 related to the usage of modified siRNA in vivo

(Novartis Patent Office, “orally active siRNA” case#4-50152P1)

  • “Methods of inhibiting expression of a target gene in mammalian cells” (28.2.01) (WO02068635)

Meetings and Presentations:

  • Poster presentation of my project at the FMI Annual Meetings (1996-2001).
  • Oral presentation at the plenary session of the FMI Annual Meeting 1999.
  • Poster presentation during the “RNA’99” and “RNA 2000” RNA Society international meeting .
  • Poster presentation at the “RNA interference” meeting, Keystone (February 2002).
  • Attending 2nd “Kloster Seon Meeting on Angiogenesis”, Kloster Seon,. Germany (16–19 October, 2002.).
  • Poster presentation at the “RNA interference” meeting, Keystone (April 2004).
  • Poster presentation at the “Tumor - Host Interaction and Angiogenesis” meeting, Ascona (October 1-5, 2005.)