Académie des sciences prize: two Inria researchers win awards

Omar Fawzi is Research Director of the QInfo (Optimal Information Processing with Quantum Devices) project-team, a joint venture between ENS Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL) and Université Grenoble Alpes. This team specializes in the development of mathematical and algorithmic tools for optimizing quantum information. For this doctorate in computer science, the choice of working in the field of quantum computing via quantum algorithms was an obvious one:

Questions about the fundamental limits of computation and communication have always fascinated me. Since quantum theory is the physical theory that best describes the world we live in (at least for now), it is necessary to take the quantum dimension into account to understand the foundations of computation and communication.

Behind the term “quantum”, which may seem mysterious to the uninitiated, lies a whole new field of applications. Indeed, Omar Fawzi and his team are developing research that could revolutionize computing in the future. These include the development of quantum computers, as Omar explains:

“Although my main motivation comes from the fundamental aspects, I'm very interested in contributing to the development of quantum technologies. I don't work directly on the construction of quantum computers (which are done in physics laboratories), but the mathematical and algorithmic tools I design contribute to the practical realization of quantum devices, and to the definition of the tasks that are performed by these devices.”

That's why, the French Academy of Sciences has decided to award the Lovelace-Babbage prize to Omar Fawzi. A distinction which is, for him, a great source of motivation: 

“I'd like to thank the Société Informatique de France and the Académie des Sciences for this award. It's always gratifying to know that what you do is appreciated. This prize will motivate me to pursue more ambitious research themes.”

Let's take a step back and take a look at the work of Léon Tine, lecturer in applied mathematics at the Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, member of the Institut Camille Jordan and the Inria Musics project-team.

The Musics project-team focuses on multi-scale modeling in the life sciences, and more specifically on the development of tools and methods for studying multi-scale processes in biology, with potential applications in medicine. Léon Tine, on the other hand, focuses on the mathematical modeling of mechanisms related to physics and biology. In physics, he is working on polymerization/depolymerization processes in the formation of particle aggregates, using Lifshitz-Slyozov-type models. In biology, he is developing models to better understand the propagation of certain diseases, notably Alzheimer's.

According to the Institut Pasteur, Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects memory. One of the reasons for the development of the disease lies in the dysfunction of the amyloid beta peptide. Naturally present in the brain, it accumulates abnormally, forming plaques. This accumulation is toxic to nerve cells. In his research, Léon Tine is developing mathematical models to understand the accumulation and propagation of this peptide:

In the context of Alzheimer's disease modeling, I am developing mathematical models to understand the mechanisms involved in the initiation and propagation of the disease following the so-called amyloid cascade hypothesis, where the Aβ protein is considered responsible for the extra-cellular lesions at the origin of cell death. The models are based on partial differential equations (PDEs) modeling the interaction dynamics between monomers, proto-oligomers and oligomers.

For Léon, receiving this award is the greatest recognition from the scientific community: 

"For me, this prize represents peer recognition of my scientific work, and for me, it's a priceless reward. To be on the list of recipients of this Maurice Audin prize is just incredible and motivating for the future."