Florence Porte-Thomé

Florence Porte-Thomé is a Founder and the R&D Director of EspeRare. She focuses on managing the foundation’s portfolio within the Head Office and drives the programmes from preclinical validation to proof of concept in human. Florence is also a member of the Board.

Florence brings 15 years’ experience in R&D and a background in immunology and oncology. After graduating as a doctor in pharmacy in Lyon and a first degree in clinical pharmacology, she joined Merck in 1997 in the field of clinical pharmacology and pharmacokinetics, leading translational research and managing early clinical studies. Still with Merck, she became a programme leader and successfully led several R&D programmes in various therapeutic areas. Recently after a return to academia in the field of immunology and oncology, she worked as a clinical project leader, driving paediatric studies in a Cancer Research Centre in Lyon.

Growing up with a cousin affected with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and seeing him gradually decline, Florence has an unconditional motivation to drive this Foundation forward.