Sylvie Blondelle, PhD, serves as the Director of Environmental Health & Safety for Sanford Burnham Prebys, and as the institute’s Biosafety Officer. She has worked for non-profit research institutions for 33 years, 18 at Sanford Burnham Prebys.
Sylvie is responsible for directing, implementing and monitoring EH&S department activities, which provide the operational support services for radiation, chemical, biological and general safety to laboratory, support and administrative employees. She is also chair of the Institutional Biosafety Committee, Institutional Review Board and Stem Cell Oversight committees, and a voting member on the Animal Care and Use Committee. She serves as point of contact regarding all aspects of safety with employees and represents the Institute to regulatory and funding agencies.
Prior to joining Sanford Burnham Prebys, Sylvie was a principal investigator at Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies in La Jolla, with 10 years of independent research experience in biochemistry, microbiology, and HIV vaccine studies. She is a co-author of more than 80 peer-review scientific publications, book chapters and 14 issued patents, served as editor of the 2005 Proceeding of the American Peptide symposium and has presented at multiple national and international meetings.
Sylvie’s qualifications and professional accreditations include a PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Montpellier, France and Registered Biosafety Professional from the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA). She is the recipient of the 2023 Hashimoto Recognition Award from ABSA, which honors outstanding service to an ABSA committee or task force.