About EuroGCT

Professor Clare Blackburn is the Project Coordinator for EuroStemCell and EuroGCT. She is a Group Leader at the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Regenerative Medicine. She steers the overall strategy for the project, working closely with our partners and the project management team, and in collaboration with public stakeholders. Clare is a stem cell biologist whose research focuses on biology of the thymus. The thymus plays an essential role in the body’s immune system as it is the site in which T cells are generated. T cells are a type of white blood cell that play an important role in immunity.

Clare led the EuroStemCell project from 2004-2020 and now leads EuroGCT. She has a personal interest in the use of film as a tool for public engagement in science and has participated in a large number of schools, patient and public engagement events, including around ethically controversial topics such as the use of human embryos for research.

Anna Couturier, Phd. is the Senior Project Manager for EuroStemCell and EuroGCT at the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Regenerative Medicine. She leads project implementation including horizon-scanning research, fundraising and strategic development, digital strategy and coordination for the projects in collaboration with their partners and public stakeholders. She also provides in-depth training for scientists and science communicators with a special focus on science and technology in digital spaces. 

Anna's academic research in Science and Technology Studies at the University of Edinburgh covers generative AI, algorithmic governance, digital health, and regenerative medicine with a particular interest in developing digitally native methodologies to address health information questions online.

Her previous work covers global educational media development and digital advocacy at institutions including Da Vinci Kids, Columbia University Center for the Core Curriculum, GLAAD, and the Women's Media Center.

Aurélie Mahalatchimy is legal scholar, permanent researcher at CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research), affiliated to UMR 7318 DICE-CERIC, Aix-Marseille University, Aix-en-Provence, France. Her main research interest is European law of biomedical innovations, mainly health products and uses of human genes (including gene editing), cells and tissues (ATMP), and their ethical/societal aspects. She is currently coordinating 2 research projects: I-BioLex on ‘Fragmentation and defragmentation of the law on biomedical innovations’ funded by the French National Agency for Research (2021-2024), and ‘Transhumanism and law’ in collaboration with the local education authority and the French Commission for UNESCO (2019-2021). She is Deputy coordinator and WP4 leader of the H2020 ‘European Consortium for Communicating Gene and Cell Therapy Information’ (2021-2025). She is also co-chair of the European Association of Health Law’s Interest Group on Supranational Biolaw with M. Flear.

More information on her current research project here. 

Full CV and list of publications.

Hsin-Yu Kuo is the Information Officer - ATMP Product Development Pathway for EuroGCT at the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Regenerative Medicine. She is responsible for mapping the European gene and cell therapy landscape, collating and synthesising practical information on gene and cell therapy development for the research and regulatory communities.

She received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Chicago and was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University. Her research was on developing bioanalytical tools that can read and control specific protein activities, for advancing the biological understanding of both physiological and pathological mechanisms in cells.

She is passionate about disseminating ideas among experts and crystalizing scientific knowledge to create a wider impact for scientific projects.

Jennifer Lorigan is the Information Officer - Gene and Cell Therapy for EuroGCT at the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Regenerative Medicine. She is responsible for developing content aimed at people affected by genetic or progressive conditions, as well as non-specialist audiences, creating resources about gene and cell therapies, genetic disorders, and ongoing research. She liaises with researchers and patient advocates to ensure that all material is accurate, up-to-date, and accessible.

She is enthusiastic about contributing to a culture of improved health equity and literacy, and has previously worked with the NHS Research Ethics Service, Dublin Brain Bank, and Science Gallery Dublin

Luc-Sylvain Gilbert is a EuroGCT Information Officer - Ethical, Legal and Societal Issues. 

He holds two master’s degrees, one in English and North American business law, and one in International Business Law and management. He has previously worked as legal director for different business companies mainly in the fields of communication, services, consumer goods and beverages.

Auxane Delage is a EuroGCT information officer on Ethical, Legal and Societal Issues. She is also a Phd Candidate in Public Law at Aix-Marseille University. She specifically works on nomadic people and how nomadism can affect how they access certain fundamental human rights. She holds a master's degree in Public Law from Aix-Marseille University, which gives her a strong background in French law but also in European and International Law. She started working on the project in May 2022. 

Agnieszka Czechon joined EuroGCT team as an information officer at the Centre of Regenerative Medicine, The University of Edinburgh. She is responsible for updating factsheets from sister project EuroStemCell to extend the information to recent advances in gene and cell therapies, and coordinates translation of the website to 6 European languages: German, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, and Spanish. She also contributes to development of branding and communication strategies, and coordinates recruitment of volunteers for reviewing and translating the website – without whom this project would not be possible.

Agnieszka has applied her knowledge gained in her BSc (Hons) in Psychology and MSc in Marketing throughout various research support roles across different research groups across Edinburgh Medical School, Mason Institute (Edinburgh Law School), School of Biological Sciences, and School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, where her roles entailed research communication and event organisation and management. Prior to these roles Agnieszka supported vulnerable groups with mental health problems. She is passionate about making positive changes in society with her skills and experience, and looks forward to create accurate and engaging content on the EuroGCT website.