In today’s blog, it is our pleasure to introduce you to Jérôme Maës, Director, Global Project Lead.
Hi Jérôme, Can you tell us what is your role at SparingVision?
As Head of Program Management, my role at SparingVision is to ensure the progress and coordination of our various programs in accordance with development milestones and budgets. Like a conductor, I coordinate the various departments (Research & Development, Pre-clinical, Clinical, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, and support functions) within each program and oversee the completion of the various steps necessary to make our innovative treatments available to patients: non-clinical proof of concept, product manufacturing, validation of safety and efficacy in clinical trials, and making the treatments available to patients.
What inspired you to join the genomic medicine in ophthalmic industry, and what keeps you motivated?
After 10 years of academic research focusing on epigenetic regulation and plasticity of hematopoietic cells in leukemia and transplantation, and 10 years as a consultant in innovation within the life sciences, I wanted to get closer to patients by supporting the development of innovative products, first in the fields of addiction and pain management, and for the past four years now in the field of genomic medicine—a return to the roots of my initial training but in a different therapeutic area, namely ophthalmology. Vision is probably the most important sense in everyday life; joining SparingVision allows me to apply my experience to the development of gene therapies aimed at improving the quality of life for patients with inherited retinal diseases by slowing the progression of their condition or partially restoring their vision. On a daily basis, interacting with SparingVision experts allows me to thrive in a highly innovative scientific and clinical environment.
What do you do in your department at SparingVision?
To coordinate the activities and progress of the various programs in accordance with the established strategy, I must ensure that tasks within the departments are completed according to established schedules and budgets, that information is effectively communicated at all levels of the company, that risks inherent in the development of these types of innovative treatments are anticipated as much as possible, that decision-making and any necessary trade-offs are facilitated, and that the programs maintain their momentum and the teams remain motivated.
How do you work with different teams across the company?
Due to my cross-functional role at SparingVision, I interact with everyone in all company’s departments. My work involves listening, challenging data and information, anticipating issues, understanding weak signals, and identifying bottlenecks to ensure that everyone has the right information at the right time and works together to move programs forward.
We always say everything at SparingVision starts with the patient. What does that mean in your role?
Behind every deadline or decision are patients living with a rare disease who are waiting for new treatment options that are virtually nonexistent today. Their testimonials remind us of the need to quickly provide them with innovative solutions whose safety and efficacy have been rigorously validated. My role is to help teams overcome day-to-day challenges while staying focused on the ultimate goal: bringing treatments to patients.
In a few words, why did you choose to work for SparingVision?
Several key factors led me to join SparingVision: i/ the science and the complementary suite of gene-agnostic therapies under development to preserve and restore vision, which makes it possible to reach a very large number of patients in a rare disease context; ii/ the amazing team; iii/ the opportunity to join a fast-paced company that is still in its early stages of development.
