University of Liege, Belgium: Post-doctoral researcher
Hospital University Centre of Liege, Belgium: Team research coordinator
Education summary
2022 – PhD in Public Health, University of Liège, Belgium – Medico-economic analysis of newborn screening for spinal muscular atrophy in Belgium
2018 – Master’s degree 2 in Work Analysis & Skills Development, CNAM Paris, France
2015 – Master’s degree 1 in Management of Health Institutions, Services and Organisations, University Paris Est Marne-la-Vallée, France
2015 – State Diploma in Health Management, Institute for the Training of Health Executives of Sainte-Anne, Paris, France
2005 – Paediatric Nurse Diploma, Institut de Puériculture de Paris, France
2004 – Nurse Diploma, Nursing Training Institute of Versailles, France
Career summary
My career started as a paediatric nurse in France, then in New Caledonia and French Guiana, before becoming chief nurse in a neuropediatric unit in Paris. These experiences, and my encounters with children living with neuromuscular diseases, made me passionate about early-diagnosis and improved care pathways. The arrival of the first SMA therapies was a turning point, when I realised that not only research but also organisation could transform health systems, beyond individual lives.
Since 2017, under the supervision of Prof. Laurent Servais, I have coordinated large-scale initiatives in neuromuscular diseases. This includes leading the operational implementation of Belgium’s SMA newborn screening (NBS) pilot — from Liège to the entire Wallonia-Brussels Federation within one year — later integrated into law. I also coordinated BabyDetect, a genomic newborn screening pilot recently completed with more than 6,800 newborns enrolled.
Sharing knowledge has been a central part of my work. I have co-organised the NBS SMA Academy since its first edition in 2022 and created the Before SMA website, offering physicians resources to develop screening and tools to support families at the time of diagnosis.
Currently, I am a post-doctoral researcher in Public Health at the University of Liège and Research Coordinator at the Reference Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases (CHU Liège). I lead a research team of seven data managers and a project manager, focusing on clinical trials, SMA, and medico-economic evaluation. I am also Principal Investigator of a new study monitoring the motor development of SMA children detected through NBS entirely remotely.
What is the personal or professional achievement you’re most proud of?
One of my proudest achievements was coordinating the first newborn screening programme for SMA in Belgium (2017). It was the first programme of its kind in Europe, and it soon became a model for other countries. Within one year, we expanded the roll-out from Liège to the entire Wallonia-Brussels Federation. I also shared our protocol widely, directly supporting more than 25 teams worldwide to initiate their own screening programmes.
Another important achievement is not only that SMA screening became part of the national law in Belgium, but that it has actually changed the life of several children here in Belgium but also worldwide. I could witness babies treated within days of birth who are now walking independently. Related to this SMA newborn screening activity, I even coordinated important steps such as advancing a delivery date to allow earlier access to therapy. Being part of these stories — seeing children thrive thanks to collective effort — remains one of the most meaningful rewards of my career.
In addition, I contributed to strengthening the neuromuscular community by organising different workshops in the field of SMA. I have been involved in organising the NBS SMA Academy since its first edition in 2022, as well as SMAfrica and I also created the Before SMA website supporting both physicians and families in the management of the disease. These initiatives reflect my commitment to ensuring that knowledge and tools are shared widely, so that more children worldwide can benefit from early diagnosis and care.
Why did you first join the WMS?
I first joined the WMS in 2017 to deepen my knowledge in neuromuscular diseases, connect with people who share the same research interests, and initiate collaborations across disciplines and countries. Since then, I have been an active participant at the annual Congresses, presenting a poster every year, giving oral presentations in recent years, and chairing a scientific session. Attending the WMS Congresses has always been an invaluable opportunity to learn directly from leading experts in the field, to share my own work, and to be inspired by the community’s collective progress.
What is your goal in joining the Executive Board?
My goal in joining the Executive Board is to actively contribute to the development of the neuromuscular community worldwide, ensuring that the Society remains a platform where clinicians, researchers, and early-career members can exchange knowledge and build meaningful collaborations. I wish to help create initiatives that foster mentorship, interdisciplinary dialogue, and equal opportunities for members at all stages of their careers.
