Alexandre Escargueil

Alexandre Escargueil, Professor of Biology at Sorbonne University, heads the Biomedical Humanities Initiative and has been involved for several years in a cross-disciplinary approach. As co-pilot of SOUND's "Global Approach to Health" thematic program, he talks about his background, motivations and ambitions for this new project.

What is your background and why did you choose to become co-pilot of SOUND's "Global Approach to Health" thematic program?

Alexandre Escargueil: As a professor of genetics at Sorbonne University since 2008, I work mainly on cancer, its biomarkers and chemotherapy. In 2012, I joined the Oncology University Institute created by the former Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Serge Uzan. Today, I'm its Director of Teaching. This structure enabled me to familiarize myself with an interdisciplinary approach in contact with caregivers, patients and scientists from other fields.

In 2014, virology professor Vincent Maréchal and I created an interdisciplinary doctoral program in oncology, which led me to approach cancer from different angles. At the same time, I took part in the emergence of the Medical Humanities group within Siric Curamus. And in 2020, the philosopher Claire Crignon and I founded the Humanités biomédicales initiative, which I now head.

I also helped set up a master's degree in biomedical humanities, with the aim of fostering dialogue between the humanities, social sciences, the patient, the individual and society around cancer. All these experiences made me want to get even more involved, to continue strengthening this link between science and society, which is at the heart of the SOUND project.

What are the objectives and challenges of this project?

A. E.: The main challenge is to open up to society. Already present in the "SAPS" label ("Science with and for Society", obtained by Sorbonne University in 2022), these issues are now at the heart of the policy of the establishment and the Sorbonne University Alliance. The SOUND project is part of this dynamic, and aims to consolidate our strengths around priority themes, and to develop, amplify and increase the visibility of research, dissemination and education initiatives with target audiences.

What scientists lack today is an impact on citizens and politicians at local, national and international level. The strength of the SOUND project lies in bringing science and knowledge to bear on society.

What is your role as co-pilot, and how will you work with the other entities of the Sorbonne University Alliance?

A. E.: A number of initiatives based on a global approach to health already exist within the Alliance. Examples include work on epidemiology in wastewater developed at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, the question of nutritional transition supported by the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN), and agricultural models studied at the UTC. With Jian-Sheng Sun, biophysicist at MNHN, with whom I am co-leading the thematic program, the idea is to work with our partners to strengthen these projects, link them up, and disseminate the resulting knowledge.

That's why our scientific committee includes members from UTC, MNHN, INSEAD and the three Sorbonne University faculties. Together, we will work with institutes, initiatives and components to gather and share the information gathered in each community.

We'll also be working closely with SOUND's other thematic programs. Indeed, a subject like nutrition on which we'll be working raises questions not only of human health, but also of agriculture, animal health, biodiversity and changes in society.

The global approach to health also encompasses international aspects, as it is thought of on a worldwide scale. It is therefore essential not to limit ourselves to a Western vision, but to work hand in hand with our foreign partners on joint actions to gain perspective on the issues involved.