Host: Professor Pierre Magistretti

Abstract:
Translational research has been a central thread throughout my scientific career, driven by a deep commitment to bridging the gap between discovery and real-world health impact. From my academic foundations at EPFL and Harvard Medical School, where I explored the molecular underpinnings of synaptic plasticity and memory, to my work at Genentech and Nestlé Research on therapeutic and nutritional target identification, I have consistently sought to connect mechanistic insights with clinical relevance—transforming biological knowledge into actionable strategies and tools to promote healthspan. Here, I will illustrate how my journey in translational research has led to the discovery of novel solutions supporting and promoting healthy longevity, especially biological age—an emerging metric that more accurately reflects health risk than chronological age and mental energy through the modulation of volition. These experiences have shaped a translational science strategy that is cross-disciplinary, data-driven, and patient-centered.

Bio:
Pascal received his BSc from University of Lausanne, a PhD in Neuroscience from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in 2004, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School, Boston, in 2008. He then served as Director of Operations at Tilocor International, a biotech consortium, where he supervised the transfer process of drug candidate products from research towards clinical development. From 2010 to 2015, Pascal worked in the Neuroscience Department at Genentech in South San Francisco, leading an interdisciplinary team to discover and develop new drug targets in neurological diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and pain. In 2015, Pascal joined the Nestlé Institute of Health Science in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he founded and led the Brain Health Department, shaping Nestlé’s neuroscience research agenda to support innovation across multiple consumer health brands. In 2020, Pascal joined Purina R&D Center in St. Louis as the senior director of the Nestle Purina Nutrition Science Team. There, he led integration of multi-omics and AI-based innovation platforms, built cross-functional bridges between R&D and business units, and established strategic alliances to accelerate the translation of pet health research into human health solutions. In 2025, Pascal joined Nestlé Health Science as the global head of medical nutrition and he is leading clinical programs targeting brain health, metabolism and longevity, including the company’s largest clinical trial in Mild Cognitive Impairment.