The team

Alicia Reyes Valenzuela holds a PhD in Biological and Biomedical Engineering from McGill University, where she developed the foundational technology behind PulmonaVat.

She is passionate about stem cell biology. Alicia enjoys engaging with the public through creative science communication, often combining science and art to reveal the “magic” of cells.

Driven by a commitment to ethical innovation, she is now focused on bringing PulmonaVat’s technology to industry to advance human-relevant, animal-free solutions in respiratory medicine.

Christophe Lachance-Brais holds a PhD in Chemistry from McGill University, where he earned both the Winkler Award and the D.W. Ambridge Prize for his outstanding thesis on nucleic acids.

His passion for science extends beyond the lab, as he actively engages in public outreach to make complex scientific concepts more accessible. 

Christophe joined PulmonaVat as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in 2025, bringing his deep expertise in DNA biomaterials to support the development of innovative, human-relevant technologies.