On May 1, 1990, I took my internship in Hepatology and Gastroenterology for a semester in the prestigious Department of Hepatology headed by Prof. Daniel Dhumeaux at the Henri Mondor University Hospital in Créteil (University of Paris-Est).This was the beginning of an inspiring translational career, fully dedicated to hepatology and virology.

The adventure started with myself alone, trying to run a home-made PCR for the detection of the RNA of the hepatitis C virus. Hopefully, many collaborators joined the group in the following years. Many of them still belong to it and contribute, at their level, to its production and reputation.

The first step was to put in place an organized, high-quality clinical research setting backed by a modern and innovative molecular virology laboratory. This led to the creation within our laboratory of the French National Reference Center for Viral Hepatitis B, C and D, under the auspices of the French Institute of Health Surveillance. In parallel, the basic research team was created and grew. It was labelled an "INSERM (French National Institute of Health) research team", within the Mondor Institute for Biomedical Research (IMRB, INSERM U955).

Our group provided a major contribution to the evolution of knowledge and to the management of patients with viral hepatitis B and C. This is our common pride. But the world is changing and science is happily bringing solutions to the most complex medical problems. The vast majority of chronic hepatitis C virus infections is now cured, while chronic hepatitis B virus infection is easily controlled by antiviral therapy. It is therefore time for our group to sail to new adventures, taking advantage of the expertise and technological capacity acquired.

We are now moving in 3 complementary directions. The development of novel approaches based on genomics and metagenomics using next-generation sequencing and original bio-analysis software pipelines for the diagnosis of infections. The development of new broad-spectrum antiviral approaches based on the inhibition of cyclophilins and the manipulation of cellular microRNAs, targeted in particular on respiratory viruses, which remain a major challenge for therapeutic developments.The understanding of the role of the hepatic inflammatory microenvironment on the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma and the identification of new therapeutic targets to limit it.

The future belongs to us ...