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Jacques earned dual master’s degrees in Chemistry and Biology from ENSC Montpellier (France), where his research centered on developing fluorescent biosensors for CDK4/Cyclin D. With a desire to deepen his understanding of drug discovery and gain practical industry experience, he then joined GlaxoSmithKline’s Chemical Biology group in North Carolina for a year. There, he worked on synthesizing anti-malarial kinase inhibitors and creating a chemo-proteomic platform.
After GSK, the University of Geneva’s Winssinger lab provided Jacques with the ideal environment to merge his passions for chemistry and biology while honing new skills. Over his time there, he published 13 papers focused on peptide nucleic acids (PNA) and their diverse applications in chemical biology. His contributions included designing a kinase activity biosensor, improving solid-phase PNA synthesis, screening PNA-DNA libraries, and identifying an allosteric modulator of p97 ATPase. Jacques' experience repurposing protein functions and the UPS system there sparked an interest in targeted protein degradation (TPD), leading him to pursue postdoctoral research in Yale University’s Crews lab.
At Yale, Jacques developed heterobifunctional molecules for lysosomal degradation and protein dephosphorylation. During his time there, Craig Crews invited him to contribute to a novel therapeutic modality, which resulted in a DARPA-funded project and the founding of Siduma Therapeutics. As a founding team member, Jacques played a pivotal role in advancing the company’s platform. His work encompassed discovering and screening ligands for platform and target proteins (using methods such as DEL and X-ray crystallography fragment-based screening), designing and testing heterobifunctional molecules, driving structural biology initiatives, and developing in vitro assays and biophysical methods to evaluate target engagement and ternary complex formation.
Building on his expertise in induced proximity, Jacques joined General Proximity as an Associate Principal Scientist. In this role, he leads platform development, designs innovative screening approaches, and explores new opportunities for leveraging induced proximity in drug discovery.
Outside of work, Jacques enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and dog, engaging in activities like trail running, ultramarathons, biking, and bouldering. When he’s in need of rest, he indulges in a good science fiction book or catches up on scientific reading.
