Delphine Marchaud

Biography and Expertise of Delphine Marchaud

Delphine Marchaud embodies the convergence of pharmaceutical precision and integrative care. After a distinguished 20-year career developing new medicines for the pharmaceutical industry, she made a significant professional pivot in 2020. This change was driven by a desire to contribute to a cause of general interest, leading her to the directorship of the Gattefossé Foundation. In this role, she now dedicates her extensive scientific expertise to a singular mission: promoting the value of integrative health and validating aromatherapy as a serious, evidence-based complementary therapy.

Her work directly aligns with the 3rd WCTCIM’s Thematic Axis, “Integration of TCIM into Health Systems.” The Gattefossé Foundation champions the use of aromatherapy not as an alternative to conventional medicine, but as a complementary tool to improve patient well-being, manage treatment side effects, and enhance the overall care experience. Therefore, her efforts are crucial for building the clinical and scientific trust needed for healthcare professionals to adopt these practices. This approach is fundamental to realizing the vision of the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034.

Furthermore, the work of Delphine Marchaud is a direct answer to the Gujarat Declaration’s call for science and evidence in traditional medicine. By applying the same standards of rigor from her pharmaceutical background to the study of essential oils, she helps build a credible body of knowledge. This commitment to scientific validation addresses a critical gap, transforming aromatherapy from a practice based on historical use to one supported by modern clinical data. Her leadership thus contributes to creating “Well-being Societies” by ensuring that integrative therapies are safe, effective, and accessible.

Professional Career: From Pharmaceuticals to Integrative Health

Delphine Marchaud’s career shows a clear evolution from scientist to strategic leader. Each role equipped her with skills now applied at the Gattefossé Foundation, demonstrating a deep understanding of therapeutic development from lab to patient application.

This background gives her unique credibility in integrative medicine. Understanding medical and regulatory expectations, she bridges conventional and complementary healthcare, a perspective key for collaboration.

• Director, Gattefossé Foundation (2020 – Present): Defines and executes the Foundation’s strategy for integrative health, overseeing grants, educational programs, and partnerships to advance clinical aromatherapy.
• Director of Marketing & Innovation for Pharmaceuticals, Gattefossé (2014 – 2019): Blended scientific expertise with market insight, leading teams to identify growth areas and create clear value propositions for a global pharmaceutical audience.
• Head of Pharmaceutical Technical Division, Gattefossé (2006 – 2014): Managed a team creating novel lipid-based drug delivery systems, honing her project management, leadership, and technical client support skills.
• Manager, Pharmaceutical Application Laboratory, Gattefossé (1998 – 2006): Led the application laboratory, gaining expertise in formulation science and the challenges of developing effective dosage forms.
• Pharmaceutical Scientist, Sanofi (Early Career): Began her career at Sanofi (France/USA), gaining a strong grounding in drug development, regulatory standards, and lab practices.

An Academic Foundation in Applied Science

The academic background of Delphine Marchaud is rooted in applied physical sciences, providing the analytical framework to navigate pharmaceutical development and natural product science. Her education in physicochemistry and pharmaceutical technologies instilled in her a deep understanding of molecular behavior, formulation principles, and the importance of empirical evidence. This scientific grounding is the bedrock of her professional career.

Unlike a purely theoretical education, her training was focused on practical application, preparing her to solve real-world challenges in therapeutic delivery. Consequently, this perspective is now instrumental in her work at the Gattefossé Foundation, where she guides efforts to understand and standardize the use of complex natural substances like essential oils in clinical settings. Her qualifications ensure that the Foundation’s approach is methodical, rigorous, and scientifically sound.

• Master’s Degree in Pharmaceutical Technologies: This advanced degree provided her with specialized knowledge in the design, development, and manufacturing of drug dosage forms. It covered critical topics such as bioavailability, drug delivery systems, and formulation stability, all of which are highly relevant concepts when evaluating the efficacy and safety of aromatherapeutic applications.
• Degree in Physicochemistry, School of Applied Sciences, Montpellier (1996): Her foundational degree from a respected French institution gave her a fundamental understanding of the physical principles governing chemical systems. This knowledge is essential for comprehending the interactions between active ingredients—whether synthetic molecules or natural compounds—and the human body, as well as the excipients used to deliver them.

A Commitment to Scientific Communication and Evidence Generation

Throughout her career, Delphine Marchaud has been an active contributor to the scientific community. The curriculum notes that she has authored numerous scientific publications and is a frequent invited lecturer, underscoring her role not only as a researcher but also as an educator and thought leader. During her time leading technical and innovation divisions at Gattefossé, her work was centered on generating robust data to support the development of advanced drug delivery platforms. This involved meticulous research, rigorous testing, and clear communication of findings in peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences.

This history of scientific contribution continues in her current role, albeit with a different focus. At the Gattefossé Foundation, she channels her experience toward building the evidence base for aromatherapy. The Foundation supports research that investigates the mechanisms of action, clinical efficacy, and safety of essential oils when used as complementary care. This includes funding studies in oncology, geriatrics, and palliative care, where aromatherapy can help manage symptoms like anxiety, pain, and nausea.

Therefore, the leadership of Delphine Marchaud is pivotal in elevating the scientific standing of aromatherapy. By championing high-quality research and disseminating the results to healthcare professionals, she helps demystify the practice and provides clinicians with the data they need to confidently integrate it into their patient care protocols. Her work bridges the worlds of academic research and practical application, a key theme of the 3rd WCTCIM.

Connect with Delphine Marchaud and the Gattefossé Foundation

To further explore the impactful work led by Delphine Marchaud, you can connect with her through her professional profile and delve into the initiatives of the Gattefossé Foundation. These resources offer comprehensive information on their mission, research projects, and contributions to advancing integrative health and aromatherapy worldwide.

Gattefossé Foundation Official Website: Explore the Foundation’s Initiatives

LinkedIn Profile: Connect with Delphine Marchaud on LinkedIn