A French biologist, he was internationally recognized for his contribution to the discovery of messenger RNA and for his career as a researcher and teacher dedicated to the study of genes and their role in the regulation of cellular functions.
Head of the Pasteur Institute from 1976 to 1982, advisor to Prime Ministers Pierre Mauroy and Laurent Fabius, he was also Permanent Secretary of the French Academy of Sciences and member of the Institut de France.
Prof. Gros awarding the Christophe Mérieux Prize to late Prof. Ogobara Doumbo in 2007.
When Fondation Rodolphe Mérieux was created in 2001, and later became Fondation Christophe et Rodolphe Mérieux, he was appointed by Pierre Messmer, then Chancellor of the Institut de France, as a director. A member of the Mérieux Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2007, and then President of Honor from 2019, he brought his enlightened vision and expertise to the strategic direction of the Foundation.
The Mérieux Foundation has lost an advisor who played a decisive role in its development and joins his family and friends in their grief.
“An exceptional man, he always helped us to give meaning to our actions through his advice, his intelligence and his benevolence. We pay a deep tribute to him and extend our deepest sympathy to his wife and family.” Alain Mérieux, President of the Mérieux Foundation.