About -

Founders

D. Paunovic

Dr. Dragica Paunovic, is a physician with broad experience in clinical research, medical strategy, and innovation. She has contributed to advancing scientific and medical initiatives in Europe and was also a dear friend of Thierry.

A. Gangi

Prof. Afshin Gangi, a close friend of Thierry for nearly 40 years, is a leading interventional radiologist who has devoted his career to medical innovation and patient care. He remains an important supporter of the vision Thierry helped inspire.

G. de Baère

Gaspard de Baère, Thierry’s son, is a lawyer and part of the circle committed to continuing the mission Thierry helped inspire. He shared with his father a love of paragliding and Ducati rides, two passions that were a special part of their bond.

T. Sals

Tamara Sals,with nearly 20 years of experience in clinical research, she is committed to helping promising therapies move closer to patients and to continuing this mission. Shewas a supportive presence in Thierry’s life, especially after his accident.

About Thierry

Thierry was one of the pioneering figures in interventional oncology. He helped shape and advance the field internationally, while always remaining deeply committed to the human side of medicine.

TUMBLING is not only a tribute to Thierry’s memory, but also a continuation of something he personally helped set in motion. He was involved in the nonprofit’s early development, chose the name, helped create the logo, and stressed the importance of continuing to support science. After his spinal cord injury, the urgency of scientific progress became even more personal.

TUMBLING was created so that Thierry’s mission would not end here. It carries forward the belief he strongly believed in and personally helped shape: that science must keep moving and that innovation must serve patients. This organization is both a tribute and a continuation of something Thierry himself helped set in motion: a way to honor his life, his energy, his (com)passion, and his belief that medicine should always strive further.

Thierry was not only an exceptional physician, scientist, and internationally respected leader, but also an incredible human being. He cared deeply for his patients and for the people he loved. Those who knew him remember not only his brilliance and vision, but also his warmth, loyalty, generosity, love, and humanity. Love and passion defined Thierry. He approached everything in life with passion— his work, science, his hobbies, and the care he gave to others and to his patients. He did not do things halfway. He lived with conviction, generosity, and presence, and that is part of what made him so exceptional.

He was a man of movement, freedom, courage, and intensity. He loved an active life and was passionate about paragliding, (kite)surfing, snowboarding, motor rides (preferably on a Ducati 998) and Onewheel. These passions reflected something essential in who he was: boldness, precision, curiosity, freedom, and a deep love of life.

Interesting Facts

Why TUMBLING?

The name carries a dual meaning. It refers to “infinity tumbling,”one of the most advanced and dynamic aerobatic maneuvers in paragliding, a sport deeply connected to Thierry’s life. It also resonates with the recently described scientific phenomenon of "cell tumbling" which enhances stem cell differentiation.

Logo Design

This logo was created to reflect the story behind TUMBLING. Its shape suggests the spinal cord, symbolizing the injury that made the mission so personal. It also echoes the Eiffel Tower , honoring Paris — the city where Thierry was born, lived, and worked, and where the idea for this nonprofit was born as well. And at its base, one can also recognize the suggestion of a paraglider, a subtle tribute to Thierry’s spirit, his love of freedom, and one of the passions that was part of his life.

Thierry's Sculptures

Thierry also loved making metal sculptures. This passion started when he was young, after coming across a sculpture he would have loved to buy but that was too expensive. Instead of giving up on it, he decided to make them himself. That moment became the beginning of a creative passiongb that stayed with him throughout his life. The sculpture shown above was the last one he made: two birds, waiting to take off and fly — a touching reflection of freedom, movement and the spirit with which he lived.