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Interview with Christine Roubert

Christine Roubert, Principal Scientist (Evotec)

What is your role in ERA4TB?
I am leading a project that aim to have an oral drug with the aim to test it on patient suffering from tuberculosis . We are working with the ERA4TB consortium to address this challenge.
I am also on the Steering Committee where budgets are decided

Which ERA4TB work packages do you work in?
I work with Work Package 6 (Pre-cli dev)

How did you end up working in TB research?
Long story…I started up as with a PhD in cellular and molecular Neuroscience and ended up in 2015 to join a TB research group.

Are there many women working in your field of interest at the moment?
Yes there are! And many that I admire.

Why is it important for women to be involved in TB or drug development research?
This question is quite complex, and I would need an essay to fully address it (including numerous fields like social and economic aspects up to neuroscience and brain imaging …).

What advice would you give to girls or women interested in a career in TB or drug development research?
There are two key aspects to our work: first, the project management, the ideas, the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ investigative part, the ‘Ludo’ strategic part, and of course, the relationships with different teams that drive drug development.

But most importantly, the lab.

BSL3 workers are critically missing in the field, and no matter what we do or think, everything hinges on the work done in a BSL3 lab. Without it, we cannot move forward. Get trained, we need you!

The theme for International Women’s Day this year is #AccelerateAction – Advancing and celebrating women’s equality worldwide. If you had one wish, what would you like to see happening in the world to make this happen?
There are numerous challenges to address before achieving global equality, but let’s try: I would wish for accessible childcare, increased opportunities and grants for women in science, and mentorship from individuals with similar backgrounds who have succeeded as TB scientists.

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