Alain Martelli is a molecular and cellular biologist by training, with a PhD in Bioorganic Chemistry from the University of Grenoble, France. Alain worked for more than 15 years in academic research, where he developed a strong expertise in molecular biology, iron metabolism and rare disease, specifically in the rare neuromuscular disorder Friedreich ataxia. In 2016, Alain joined the Pfizer Rare Disease Research Unit in Cambridge (MA), USA, where he led several early-stage programs and collaborations involving both gene therapy and small molecule approaches. In 2022, Alain moved back to France to join a small biotech company, Innoskel, as Senior Director of Translational Medicine, to oversee the translational development of a novel gene therapy for a rare bone disorder. In July 2023, Alain was hired back by Pfizer as Emerging Science Lead to help build strong collaborations between Pfizer and the French academic research and biotech ecosystems.