‘What drives me in my job is freedom.’ Pierre Millard puts it bluntly: being a researcher means being able to choose your questions, select your collaborations, and maintain an intact curiosity about living systems.
After completing a master's degree in Structural and Functional Biology in Toulouse, he developed his first software during an internship at LISBP (now TBI). Still used by the community today, this early project marked the start of his scientific journey. He then pursued a PhD under the supervision of Jean-Charles Portais. ‘He was the one who made me see metabolism differently.’, Pierre recalls. He then left for a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in Manchester, an experience that opened new horizons, centered on modelling. ‘A very positive experience, both scientifically and because of this vibrant city.’ In 2014, he joined INRAE and the METASYS team at TBI, where he continues to work as a research fellow.
As a child, he was fascinated by electronic circuits. Today, he has become an expert in metabolic circuits. A change of scale, but driven by the same thirst for understanding fluxes and their regulation. His research focuses on metabolism: the network of chemical reactions that occur within cells to generate the precursors and energy needed for growth and maintenance.
For the past 10 years, he has been investigating the phenomenon of metabolic overflow. As cells grow, they produce compounds long considered toxic waste. His work has shown that some of these compounds are, in fact, genuine regulators and nutrients. ‘‘We have even shown that, under certain conditions, they can promote cell growth.’ This discovery opens the door to new applications in bioprocesses.
A curious researcher with a wide range of interests, Pierre enjoys combining modelling, tool development and experimentation to better understand living organisms. He is also passionate about art, gardening and gastronomy. And when asked to describe the TBI in three words, his answer perfectly reflects his mindset: freedom, exchange and passion.