Damien Portevin

Group leader - Tuberculosis Immunology at Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute

Basel, Basel, Switzerland

About

Leading research activities based on flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy and mass spectrometry spanning from basic research to clinical studies following GCP guidelines to dissect human immune responses ex vivo including major field co-variables such as strain variation, co-infections (HIV, CMV, malaria, and helminths) and co-morbidities (diabetes mellitus), aiming to refine our understanding of host-pathogen interaction for the rational development of drugs, diagnostic tools and vaccines against tuberculosis in particular.

Experience

  • Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (14 yrs 6 mos)
    • Group leader - Tuberculosis Immunology
      Jan 2019 - Present · 7 yrs 7 mos

    • Project Leader
      Mar 2014 - Dec 2018 · 4 yrs 10 mos

      Developing human granulomas models to study immuno-modulatory properties of selected compounds. Seeking biomarkers to monitor stem cell differentiation by mass spectrometry. Monitoring cellular immune responses in vaccine trials against malaria.

    • Postdoctoral Research Collaborator
      Feb 2012 - Feb 2014 · 2 yrs 1 mo

      Assessing a flow cytometry assay (TAM-TB) for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in children.

  • Career Development Fellow at Medical Research Council
    Mar 2007 - Feb 2012 · 5 yrs

    Assessed human NK cell and macrophage responses to genetically distant M. tuberculosis strains

  • Fellow from the French Cancer Research Foundation (ARC) at INSERM
    Sep 2005 - Feb 2007 · 1 yr 6 mos

    Studied the immune properties of specific compounds for the ex-vivo expansion of human NK cell for immunotherapy of selected cancers

  • PhD student at Pharmacology and Structural Biology Institute - Toulouse (FR)
    Sep 2001 - Aug 2005 · 4 yrs

    Studied polyketides' role in mycobacterial cell wall biogenesis and virulence