Jean Claude Ameisen, MD, PhD, born 12/22/1951, New York, NY, USA,
is a professor of Immunology at Paris Diderot University-Xavier Bichat School of Medicine in Paris, France(U 728 Inserm/Université Paris Diderot, Laboratoire de Pathologie, Hôpital Saint Louis, 1 avenue C Vellefaux 75010 Paris, France); chairman of the Ethics committee of the French National Institute of Health (INSERM, Comité d'éthique, 101 rue de Tolbiac,75654 Paris cedex 13), member of  the Comité consultatif national d’éthique (CCNE, French National Consultative Ethics Committee), member of  the French National Commission for UNESCO.
He heads the research laboratory "Programmed cell death, AIDS pathogenesis and host/pathogen interactions" in unit 552 INSERM-Paris 7 University, Faculté de Médecine Xavier Bichat,

e-mail: ameisen.jc@gmail.com

The research programs that he initiated and developed since 1990 were based on his hypotheses that deregulation of cell suicide (programmed cell death) could allow a new interpretation of the pathogenesis of various diseases; and that infectious micro-organisms could represent a model allowing the understanding of the origin, selection and propagation of cell suicide programs along the evolution of life.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS concerning programmed cell death (since 1991):
1991 - Ameisen JC, Capron A. Cell dysfunction and depletion in AIDS: the programmed cell death hypothesis. Immunology Today 1991, 12: 102-05.
1992 - Ameisen JC. Programmed cell death and AIDS pathogenesis: from hypothesis to experiment. Immunology Today, 1992, 13:388-91
1992 - Groux H, Torpier G, Monté D, Mouton Y, Capron A, Ameisen JC. Activation-induced death by apoptosis in CD4+ T cells from HIV-infected asymptomatic individuals. Journal of Experimental Medicine 1992, 175, 331-340.
1993 - Groux H, Monté D, Plouvier B, Capron A, Ameisen JC. CD3-mediated apoptosis of human medullary thymocytes and activated peripheral T cells: respective roles of IL-1, IL-2, IFN-gamma and accessory cells. European Journal of Immunology 1993, 23:1623-1629.
1994 - Estaquier J, Idziorek T, De Bels F, Barré-Sinoussi F, Hurtrel B, Aubertin AM, Venet A, Mehtali M, Muchmore E, Michel P, Mouton Y, Girard M, Ameisen JC. Programmed cell death and AIDS: the significance of T-cell apoptosis in pathogenic and non pathogenic primate models of lentiviral infection. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1994, 91:9431-9435.
1994 - Ameisen JC, Estaquier J, Idziorek T. From AIDS to parasite infection: pathogen-mediated subversion of programmed cell death as a mechanism for immune dysregulation. Immunoogical Reviews 1994, 142:9-51.
1994 - Ameisen JC. Programmed cell death (apoptosis) and cell survival regulation: relevance to AIDS and cancer. Editorial Review, AIDS 1994, 8:1197-1213.
1995 - Estaquier J, Idziorek T, Zou W, Emilie D, Farber CM, Bourez JM, Ameisen JC. Th1/Th2 cytokines and T-cell death: preventive effect of IL-12 on activation-induced and CD95 (Fas/Apo-1)-mediated apoptosis of CD4+ T cells from HIV-infected persons. Journal of Experimental Medicine 1995, 182:1759-1767.
1995 - Idziorek T, Estaquier J, De Bels F, Ameisen JC YOPRO-1 permits cytofluorometric analysis of programmed cell death (apoptosis) without interfering with cell viability. Journal of Immunological Methods 1995, 185:249-258
1995 - Ameisen JC, Estaquier J, Idziorek T, De Bels F. The relevance of apoptosis to AIDS pathogenesis. Trends in Cell Biology 1995, 5:27-32.
1995 - Ameisen JC, Idziorek T, Billaut-Mulot O, Loyens M, Tissier JP, Potentier A, Ouaissi MA. Apoptosis in a unicellular eukaryote (Trypanosoma cruzi): implications for the evolutionary origin and role of programmed cell death in the control of cell proliferation, differentiation and survival. Cell Death and Differentiation 1995, 2:285-300
1996 - Estaquier J, Tanaka M, Suda T, Nagata N, Golstein P, Ameisen JC. Fas-mediated apoptosis of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from HIV-infected persons: differential in vitro preventive effect of cytokines and protease antagonists. Blood 1996, 87:4959-4966
1996 - Ameisen JC. The origin of programmed cell death. Science 1996, 272:1278-1279.
1997 - Estaquier J, Marguerite M, Sahuc F, Bessis N., Auriault C, Ameisen JC. IL-10-mediated T-cell apoptosis during the T helper type 2 cytokine response in murine Schistosoma mansoni  parasite infection. European Cytokine Network 1997, 8:153-160
1997 - Kremer L, Estaquier J, Brandt E, Ameisen JC, Locht C: Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette Guérin infection prevents apoptosis of resting human monocytes. European Journal of Immunology 1997, 27:2450-2456.
1997 - Estaquier J, Ameisen JC. A role for T helper type 1 and type 2 cytokines in the regulation of human monocyte apoptosis Blood 1997, 90:1618-1625.
1998 - Ameisen JC, "The evolutionary origin and role of programmed cell death in single celled organisms: a new view of executioners, mitochondria, host-pathogen interactions, and the role of death in the process of natural selection.", in : When Cells die. R. Lockshin, Z. Zakeri, J. Tilly (eds.). New York, Wiley-Liss, Inc., 1998, pp. 3-56.
1998 - Quignon F, De Bels F, Koken M, Feunteun J, Ameisen JC, de Thé H. PML-induces a novel caspase-independent cell death process, Nature Genetics 1998, 20:259-264
1998 - Ameisen JC. HIV: Setting death in motion. Nature 1998, 395: 117-119.
1999 - Buzyn A, Petit F, Ostankovitch M, Figueiredo S, Varet B, Guillet JG, Ameisen JC, Estaquier J. Membrane bound Fas ligand on leukemic cell: a mechanism of tumor immune escape in leukemia patients. Blood,1999,94:3135-3140.
2000 - Estaquier J, Monceaux V, Cumont MC, Aubertin AM, Hurtrel B, Ameisen JC. Early changes in peripheral blood T cells during primary infection of rhesus macaques with a pathogenic SIV. J Med Primatol, 2000, 29:127-135.
2000 - El-Sabban ME, Nasr R, Dbaibo G, Hermine O, Abboushi N, Quignon F, Ameisen JC, Bex F, De The H, Bazarbachi A, Arsenic-interferon-alpha-triggered apoptosis in HTLV-1-transformed cells is associated with Tax down-regulation and reversal of NF-kappaB activation. Blood. 2000, 96:2849-55.
2001 - Tatischeff I, Petit PX, Grodet A, Tissier JP, Duband-Goulet I, Ameisen JC. Inhibition of multicellular development switches cell death of Dictyostelium discoideum towards mammalian-like unicellular apoptosis. Eur J Cell Biol. 2001, 80:428-41.
2001 - Arnoult D, Tatischeff I, Estaquier J, Girard M, Sureau F, Tissier JP, Grodet A, Dellinger M, Traincard F, Kahn A, Ameisen JC, Petit PX. On the evolutionary conservation of the cell death pathway: mitochondrial release of an Apoptosis Inducing Factor during Dictyostelium discoideum cell death. Mol. Biol. Cell. 2001, 12:3016-30
2001 - Petit F, Corbeil J, Lelièvre JD, Moutouh-de Perceval L, Pinon G, Green DR, Ameisen JC, Estaquier J.
Role of CD95-activated caspase-1 processing of IL-1b in TCR-mediated proliferation of HIV-infected CD4+ T cells.
Eur J Immunol 2001, 31:3513-3524

2001 - Bratosin D, Estaquier J, Petit F, Arnoult D, Quatannens B, Tissier JP, Slomianny C, Sartiaux C, Alonso C, Huart JJ, Montreuil J, Ameisen JC. Programmed cell death in mature erythrocytes: a model for investigating death effector pathways operating in the absence of mitochondria. Cell Death Differ. 2001, 8:1143-1156
2001 - Ameisen JC. Apoptosis subversion: HIV-Nef provides both armor and sword (News and Views) Nature Medicine 2001, 7:1181-1182
2002 - Petit F, Arnoult D, Lelievre JD, Moutouh De Parseval L, Hance A, Schneider P, Corbeil J, Ameisen JC, Estaquier J. Productive HIV-1 infection of primary CD4+ T cells induces mitochondrial membrane permeabilization leading to a caspase-independent cell death. J Biol Chem. 2002, 277:1477-1487
2002 - Arnoult D, Akarid K, Grodet A, Petit PX, Estaquier J, Ameisen JC. On the evolution of programmed cell death: apoptosis of the unicellular eukaryote Leishmania major involves cysteine proteinase activation and mitochondrion permeabilization. Cell Death Differ 2002, 9:65-81
2002 - Ameisen JC, Carving life: regulated self-destruction and the evolution of complexity.In: The Fire in the crystal. The mystery of life in the recurrent geometric patterns of the universe. (27th International Conference, Rimini, Pio Manzù Research Centre, ONU, UNIDO) 2002, 122: 12-37 (bilingual text, italian title: Al cuore della vita: l'autodistruzione regolata e l'evoluzione della complessità. In: Il fuoco nel cristallo)
2002. Estaquier J, Lelièvre JD, Petit F, Brunner T, Moutouh de Parseval L, Richman DD, Ameisen JC, Corbeil J. Effects of antiretroviral drugs on HIV 1-induced CD4 T-cell death. J Virol 2002, 76:5966-5973
2002 - Ameisen JC. On the origin, evolution, and nature of programmed cell death: a timeline of four billion years. Cell Death Differ 2002, 9:367-393
2002 - Janin A, Deschaumes C, Daneshpouy M, Estaquier J, Micic-Polianski J, Rajagopalan-Levasseur P, Akarid K, Mounier N, Gluckman E, Socié G, Ameisen JC. CD95 engagement induces disseminated endothelial-cell apoptosis in vivo: immunopathological implications. Blood April 15, 2002; 99: 2940-2947
2002 - Arnoult D, Parone P, Martinou JC, Antonsson B, Estaquier J, Ameisen JC. Mitochondrial release of Apoptosis Inducing Factor occurs downstream of cytochrome c release in response to several proapoptotic stimuli. J Cell Biol. 2002, 159: 923-929
2002 - Ameisen JC, Lelièvre JD, Pleskoff O. HIV/host interactions: new lessons from the Red Queen's country. AIDS 2002, 16 (sup.4: 2002 A year in review) S25-S31
2003 - Ameisen JC, Pleskoff O, Lelièvre JD, De Bels F. Subversion of cell survival and cell death: viruses as enemies, tools, teachers and allies. (News and Commentaries) Cell Death Differ 2003, 10 (sup. 1) S3-S6
2003 - Monceaux V, Estaquier J, Février M, Cumont MC, Rivière Y, Aubertin AM, Ameisen JC, Hurtrel B. Extensive apoptosis in lymphoid organs during primary Simian Immunodeficiency Virus infection predicts rapid progression towards AIDS. AIDS 2003 17:1585-96
2003. Pequignot MO, Provost AC, Salle S, Taupin P, Sainton Km, Marchant D, Martinou JC, Ameisen JC, Jais JP, Abitbol M. Major role of BAX in apoptosis during retinal development and in establishment of a functional postnatal retina. Dev. Dyn. 2003, 228:231-238
2003. Arnoult D, Petit F, Lelievre JD, Lecossier D, Hance A, Monceaux V, Ho Tsong Fang R, Hurtrel B, Ameisen JC, Estaquier J. Caspase-dependent and -independent T-cell death pathways in pathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus infection: relationship to disease progression. Cell Death and Differentiation. 2003, 11:1240-1252
2004. Zhao WL, Ertault Daneshpouy M, Mounier N, Briere J, Leboeuf C, Plassa LF, Turpin E, Cayuela JM, Ameisen JC, Gisselbrecht C, Janin A. Prognostic significance of bcl-xL gene expression and apoptotic cell counts in follicular lymphoma. Blood. 2004, 103:695-697
2004. Socie G, Mary JY, Lemann M, Daneshpouy M, Guardiola P, Meignin V, Ades L, Esperou H, Ribaud P, Devergie A, Gluckman E, Ameisen JC, Janin A. Prognostic value of apoptotic cells and infiltrating neutrophils in graft-versus-host disease of the gastrointestin tract in humans: TNF and Fas expression. Blood. 2004, 103:50-57
2004. Akarid K, Arnoult D, Micic-Polianski J, Sif J, Estaquier J, Ameisen JC. Leishmania major mediated prevention of programmed cell death induction in infected macrophages is associated with the repression of mitochondrial release of cytochrome c. Journal of Leukocyte Biology (in press 2004)
2004. Lelièvre JD, Mammano F, Arnoult D, Petit F, Grodet A, Estaquier J, Ameisen JC. A novel mechanism for HIV1-mediated bystander CD4+ T-cell death: neighboring dying cells drive the capacity of HIV1 to kill non-cycling primary CD4+ T cells. Cell Death and Differentiation (in press 2004).
2004. Ameisen JC. Looking for death at the core of life in the light of evolution. (News and Commentary). Cell Death and Differentiation. 2004, 11:4-10
2005. Benveniste O, Flahault A, Rollot F, Elbim C, Estaquier J, Pedron B, Duval X, Dereuddre-Bosquet N, Clayette P, Sterkers G, Simon A, Ameisen JC, Leport C. Mechanisms involved in the low-level regeneration of CD4+ cells in HIV-1-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy who have prolonged undetectable plasma viral loads. J Infect Dis 2005, 191:1670-9
2005. Lelievre JD, Petit F, Arnoult D, Ameisen JC, Estaquier J. Interleukin 7 increases human immunodeficiency virus type 1 LAI-mediated Fas-induced T-cell death. J Virol 2005, 79:3195-9
2005. Pleskoff O, Casarosa P, Verneuil L, Ainoun F, Beisser P, Smit M, Leurs R, Schneider P, Michelson S, Ameisen JC. The human cytomegalovirus-encoded chemokine receptor US28 induces caspase-dependent apoptosis. FEBS J 2005, 272:4163-77

Books :

- Ameisen JC. La Sculpture du vivant Le suicide cellulaire ou la mort créatrice. 1999, Éditions du Seuil. (Book, 352pp). 5th ed. 2007, Point Sciences, Seuil. The book was awarded the 2000 Biguet Prize of Philosophy by the French Academy, and the 2000 Jean Rostand Prize by MURS-AESF.
- Ameisen JC. Al cuore della vita. Il suicidio cellulare e la morte creatrice. Translation by Alessandro Serra. Serie Bianca/Feltrinelli, 2001 (2nd ed.).
-
JC Ameisen, co-editor with Daniele Hervieu-Leger et Emmanuel Hirsch de "Qu'est-ce que mourir?" Editions le Pommier/Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie, 2003
- Ameisen JC, Brohard Y. Quand l'art rencontre la science. La Martinière / Inserm, 2007
- Françoise Héritier, Jean-Luc Nancy, André Green, Claude Régy, Jean Claude Ameisen. Le corps, le sens. Seuil. 2007
- Ameisen JC.Dans la lumière et les ombres. Darwin et le bouleversement du monde. Fayard/ Seuil, 2008
- Arnold F, Ameisen JC.Les Couleurs de l'oubli. L'Atelier, 2008 (view the diaporama: Les Couleurs de l'Oubli - 1 Les Couleurs de l'Oubli - 2 )

Audio CD : JC Ameisen JC. Le Vivant. De Vive Voix. Paris. 2006

Patents :
- Ameisen JC, Groux H, Capron A, Ameisen F. "Médicament contenant un agent inhibant in vivo l'apoptose pathologique et applications". Demande n° 91.03 739, 3/27/91 Demande Internationale n° PCT/FR 92/00 265, 3/23/92.
- Ameisen JC, Bratosin D, Estaquier J, Huart J, Montreuil J. 1998 (concernant les applications thérapeutiques de la régulation de l'apoptose par des inhibiteurs de caspases)
- Koken M, Quignon F, de Thé H, Ameisen JC, De Bels F. "Utilisation de nouveaux agents inducteurs de mort cellulaire en synergie avec les interférons" priorité France n° 98.09 886, demande internationale PCT/FR 99/01 901. Partenaire industriel pharmaceutique international (2001)
- Tomavo S, Dzierszinski F, Coppin A, De Bels F, Ameisen JC. Utilisation d'une nouvelle classe de médicaments pour le traitement de maladies parasitaires. Demande internationale PCT/FR03/00107, 2003

A selection of INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS (since 1991). Invited speaker

- “Activation-induced CD4+ T-cell death by apoptosis and AIDS pathogenesis”, VI Colloque des Cent Gardes (M. Girard, L. Valette; Pasteur Mérieux) Marnes la Coquette, France (1991)

- “Programmed cell death and AIDS pathogenesis”. New Concepts in AIDS pathogenesis, Les Pensières (L. Montagnier) (FERS, CEE, Fondation M. Mérieux), France (1992)

“Programmed cell death and AIDS pathogenesis”, Rhone Poulenc-Rorer, Science Expo 92, Collegeville , PA, USA (1992)

- “Programmed cell death and AIDS pathogenesis” Ramon Areces Foundation, Division of Immunology: International Symposium Advances in pathogenesis and therapy of HIV infection and AIDS, Madrid, Espagne (1992)

- “The programmed cell death (apoptosis) theory of AIDS pathogenesis: confrontation with experimental findings”. Table ronde, présidée par N. Letvin: “Mechanisms involved in CD4+ T cell depletion”, VIII International Conference on AIDS, Amsterdam, Hollande (1992)

- “T-cell death by apoptosis in AIDS” 1993 ENII (European Network of Immunology Institutes) conference: “Integrated function of molecules of the immune system”, (P. Beverley) Les Embiez, France

- “Programmed cell death and AIDS pathogenesis” Primary HIV infection Workshop NIH, (M.T. Niu, S.M. Schnittman), Bethesda, USA  (1993)

- “Programmed cell death and AIDS pathogenesis” Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society for Immunology, Symposium on “Cytotoxicity and apoptosis in the immune system” (A. Greenberg), Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada (1993)

- “Programmed cell death and AIDS pathogenesis” Keystone Symposium: Frontiers in HIV pathogenesis, Albuquerque, NM, USA (1993)

- “Programmed cell death and AIDS pathogenesis”, et Chairman de la session “Pathophysiology of AIDS” Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology Annual Meeting (R.C. Gallo), Bethesda, MD, USA. (1993)

- “Programmed cell death (apoptosis) and AIDS pathogenesis: an update”, VIII Colloque des Cent Gardes (M. Girard, L. Valette) (1993)

- “Programmed cell death and AIDS pathogenesis”, Conference on oxidative stress in HIV/AIDS, Fogarty International Center; National Institutes of Health (H Greenspan), Bethesda, MD, USA (1993)

- “Apoptosis and AIDS”, French-Japonese Symposium on AIDS, Tokyo, National Institute of Health (1993)

- “Programmed cell death and AIDS pathogenesis”, Paris Conference on Apoptosis in AIDS and Cancer (L. Montagnier) (1993)

- “Programmed cell death and AIDS pathogenesis”. Table ronde présidée par A.S. Fauci: “Mechanisms of CD4 T-cell depletion”, 1st National Conference on human retroviruses and related infections Washington, DC (NIH) (1993)

- “Programmed cell death (apoptosis) and AIDS pathogenesis”. Biotechnology against AIDS 1994, Co-sponsored by CCE, NIAID, NIH and WHO. Florence, Italy (1994)

- “Programmed cell death (apoptosis) and AIDS”. The Biochemistry and Regulation of Programmed Cell Death, (J.A. Cidlowski, R.H. Horvitz, A. López Rivas, C. Martínez-A) Fundación Juan March Grant for Basic Research. Center for International Meetings on Biology, Madrid, Espagne. (1994)

- “Programmed cell death (apoptosis) and AIDS: A regulatory role for type1/type 2 cytokines?” (et co-chairman of the workshop on HIV infection: diagnosis and therapeutic aspects) 12th European Immunology Meeting, Barcelona, Spain  (1994)

- “Programmed cell death (apoptosis) and AIDS”. 1rst French-Japanese Immunology Meeting, Pauillac, France (D. Mathis, C. Benoist) (1994)

- “Programmed cell death, Th1/Th2 cytokines and AIDS pathogenesis” Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology Annual Meeting, (R.C. Gallo)  Bethesda, MD, USA. (1994)

- “Accessory cells, TH1/TH2 cytokines, and programmed T cell death: relevance to AIDS pathogenesis”, IX Cent Gardes Meeting (M. Girard, L. Valette) (1994)

- “Programmed cell death, apoptosis and AIDS” Karolinska Institute Nobel Assembly Symposium: Frontiers in Medicine, Apoptosis-mechanisms, regulations and biomedical implications, Stockholm, Sweden (1995)

- “TH1/TH2 cytokines and the regulation of programmed T cell death in AIDS and parasite infection”. Keystone Symposium: Apoptosis, (J. Cohen, J. Cidlowski), Tamarron, Co, USA  (1995)

- “Apoptosis in AIDS”. Royal Society of Edinburgh/Caledonian Research Foundation Conference: Pathology of Apoptosis: implications for mechanisms of disease, (A. Wyllie), Edinburg, UK (1995)

- “Apoptosis regulated by intercellular signalling in a unicellular organism: implications for the evolutionary origin of programmed cell death”. 1rst Gordon Conference on Cell Death, (R. Lockshin), New London, NH, USA  (1995)

- “Apoptosis in a unicellulair eukaryote - Regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation as an evolutionary conserved role of programmed death” Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Meeting: Programmed cell death (R. Horvitz, S. Korsmeyer, E. White), Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA (1995); and:

- “Programmed cell death (apoptosis) of CD4 T cells in AIDS: involvement of Fas (CD95/Apo-1) and modulation by TH1/TH2 cytokines” Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Meeting: Programmed cell death (R. Horvitz, S. Korsmeyer, E. White), Cold Spring Harbor, NY, USA (1995)

- “Apoptosis in host/pathogen interactions”. 2nd French-Japanese Immunology Meeting, (D. Mathis, C. Benoist, M. Taniguchi)  Kyushu, Japon (1995);

- “Programmed cell death and AIDS pathogenesis”. 5th European Congress of Neuropathology, Paris (F. Gray) (1996)

- “Apoptosis and AIDS pathogenesis” Oxydative stress and redox regulation: cellular signaling, AIDS, cancer and other diseases. (L. Montagnier, R. Olivier) Paris, 1996

- “TH1/TH2 cytokines and Fas-mediated T-cell apoptosis in HIV infection” Institute of Human Virology 1996 Annual Meeting, (R.C. Gallo), Baltimore, MD, USA

- “Programmed cell death and AIDS pathogenesis” 3rd European Winter Conference in Immunology and Cell Biology, (JF Delfraissy, B. Dugas, D. Fradelizi), St-Sorlin d'Arves  (1997)

- “On the origin and evolution of programmed cell death” Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences : Academy Colloquium Pharmaceutical Intervention in Apoptotic Pathways, Amsterdam, Hollande  (1997)

- “Programmed cell death: evolutionary origin, regulation and role in disease” (State of the Art Lecture) Institute of Human Virology 1997 Annual Meeting, (R.C. Gallo), Baltimore, MD, USA  (1997)

- “Programmed cell death: evolutionary origin, regulation and role in disease” XV National Meeting of the Italian Society of Immunology and Immunopathology, Genova, Italie (1997)

- “Programmed cell death: evolutionary origin, regulation and role in disease” San Marino Conferences  Scientific research at the dawning ot the 3rd millenium: Chronic viral diseases associated with immunodeficiency, cancer and neurological disorders (R.R. Redfield), San Marino (1997)

- “Programmed cell death: Lessons from phylogeny”. 2nd Gordon Conference on Cell Death, (M. Tenniswood, D.Green), New London, NH, USA (1997)

- “New insights into Programmed cell death” (State of the Art Lecture) Institute of Human Virology 1998 Annual Meeting, (R.C. Gallo),  Baltimore, MD, USA (1998)

- “Apoptosis and AIDS” Karolinska Institute Nobel Conference: Pathogenesis and treatment of HIV infection, Stockholm, Sweden (1998)

- “Programmed cell death: evolutionary origin, regulation and role in disease” 6th DBMS/IBS International Workshop: Programmed cell death. Autrans, France (1999)

- "What is apoptosis? The case of HIV infection". Risk and Prevention (P. Corvol, C. Carbon, M. Marty). Paris, Palais des congrès, 2000

- "Programmed cell death and host-pathogen interactions". European School of Haematology-MD Anderson Cancer Center Symposium: Mechanisms of Cell Death and Disease: Advances in Therapeutic Intervention, Galway, Ireland (D. Jobin, T McDonnell) (2000)

- "Immunity and apoptosis" Actualités Néphrologiques Jean Hamburger, Necker's Seminars in Nephrology (JP Grünfeld) 2001

- "Programmed cell death in early diverging unicellular eukaryotes: the kinetoplastid parasites". EMBO Workshop, Jacques Monod Conference: Cell death across kingdoms, (P.Golstein), Roscoff, France (2002)

- "Cell death and AIDS pathogenesis", 1rst Cell Death and Differentiation conference & 4th International SASS Foundation conference: Apoptosis in cancer and infection, Capri, Italie (2002)

- "On the origin, evolution and nature of programmed cell death" (Keynote Speaker), 5th molecular and cellular biology meeting: Apoptosis 2003 - From signalling pathways to therapeutic tools, Luxembourg

- “Looking for death at the core of life in the light of evolution” 2005 BSP Automn Symposium Meeting, Linnean Society : Programmed cell death and the protozoan parasite, Burlington House, London (2005).

- “Programmed Cell Death and Cell Signaling in Development and Disease”; (State of the Art Lecture), The Onassis Foundation Science Lecture Series/Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH) 2005 Lectures in Biology: Programmed cell death, around Robert Horvitz (Nobel Prize laureate 2002), Heraklion, Creta Grece, (2005) and:

- “On the origin, evolution and nature of Programmed Cell Death” (State of the Art Lecture), The Onassis Foundation Science Lecture Series/Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH) 2005 Lectures in Biology: Programmed cell death, around Robert Horvitz (Nobel Prize laureate 2002), Heraklion, Creta Grece, (2005)

  - “Evidence for death at the core of the evolution of life”. 1rst Gordon Research Conference on Antigen Cross-presentation, Big Sky, Montana, USA (M. Albert, P. Srivastava) (2007

ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES (a selection):
- Referee for scientific journals (Nature; Nature Medicine; Nature Cell Biol, ... )
- chairman of the Ethics committee of French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), since 2003
- member of Cell Death and Differentiation Editorial board (1996-9; 2003-5)
- foreign member of the Belgium National Scientific Research Fund (FNRS) (12th scientific committee, “general and medical microbiology, immunology”) since 1998
- member of the national committee N° 4 of the French Cancer Research Association (ARC) since 2003
- member of the concerted action “T-cell homeostasis” of the French National Research Agency on AIDS (ANRS) since 1999
- expert of the committee“Physiopathology of transmitted spongiform subacute encepholopathies” of the French Department of Education and Research (MESR) (“Biology, Life Sciences, Medicine and Health”) since 1997
- member of the French national committee “Handicap : sensibiliser, informer, former” (J. Kristeva) since 2003
- member of the scientific committee (CSS 10, Infectious Diseases) of the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) (1995-98)
- member of the National Council of Universities (CNU) (Medicine, Immunology) (1995-98)
- member of the founding committee and of the executive committee of the European Working Group on Apoptosis (European School of Haematology) (1994-96)
- member of the scientific board of Ensemble contre le Sida (French Foundation for AIDS Research) (1994-96)
- expert of Scientific and Technic Mission of the French Department of Education and Research (MESR) (“Biology, Life Sciences, Medicine and Health”) (1994, 95)
- member of the European expert committee on HIV, CCE ST2 (1988-94)
- member of the scientific committee n° 2 (Immunology) of the French National Research Agency on AIDS (ANRS) (1989-92)
- Member of scientific organizing committees of international meetings, since 1995 : 1st International Symposium on HIV and cytokines, Reims, France (1995); INSERM Workshop n°89 “Exploration of programmed cell death” (1997);

1rst Practical symposium on Apoptosis of the European School of Haematology and the European Cell Death Organisation. (with P Golstein) CEA, Saclay (1997)
; “Apoptosis” Meeting, Pharmaceutical committee INSERM/SNIP,Vanves (1998); San Marino Conference “Scientific research at the dawning ot the 3rd millenium: AIDS and cancer. Scientific and ethical challenges”, San Marino (1998); 6th DBMS/IBS International Workshop: “Programmed cell death”. Autrans (1999;
creation and organisation (with A Janin and M Giovannini) of a cycle of 3 Euroconferences on Animal Models : Modelling human diseases in the mouse: from pathogenesis to therapeutic intervention. (European School of Haematology and CEE) (2001-2003). 1rst Euroconference (Cancer), Portugal (2001) ; 2nd Euroconference (Immunology), Irlande (2002) ; 3rd Euroconference (Ageing), Tchecoslovaquie (2003) ; and of one cycle of 3 Eurolabs (2002-2004); scientific organisation of Journée Claude Bernard de la Société de Biologie : International Symposium : Mort cellulaire programmée. Origine(s), mécanismes moléculaires et implications physiopathologiques, Paris (2004)

AWARDS for his work on programmed cell death :
- The 1992 Leon Baratz Award from the French Academy of Medicine
- The 1993 joint Award from the French National Institute of Health (INSERM) and the French Academy of Sciences
- The 1997 Award from the BNP Fund/French Medical Research Foundation (FRM)
- The 2000 Biguet Prize of Philosophy from the French Academy, and
- The 2000 Jean Rostand Prize for his book La Sculpture du vivant (Seuil)

Link to the Cell Death Society
The Cell Death Society has been formed for the purposes of promulgating a better understanding of the mechanisms of cell death and apoptosis, establishing communication among the various branches of the research, and communicating and coordinating the application of research findings in biology and medicine.

Cell Death and Differentiation: http://www.nature.com/cdd/

You can see The 29th Conference Marc Bloch, « Nous vivons dans l'oubli de nos métamorphoses. La mort et la sculpture du vivant », by JC Ameisen, on the site : http://cmb.ehess.fr/document233.html
12th of June, 2007.

 

The 100th anniversary of Ilya Ilyich Metchnikoff’s Nobel Prize was celebrated at the Institut Pasteur, Paris on April 2008, with the symposium, Metchnikoff’s Legacy in 2008 organised by Matthew Albert, Marc Daëron, James Di Santo, Philippe Herbomel, Marc Lecuit and Geneviève Milon. Invited speakers: Alan Aderem, Jean Claude Ameisen, Sebastian Amigorena, Bonnie Bassler, Sydney Brenner, Max Cooper, Betty Diamond, Gerald Edelman, R. Alan B. Ezekowitz, Michel Fougereau, Jeffrey Gordon, Alan Hall, Michael  Hengartner, David Hume, Richard Lang, Michel Mallat, Margaret Mcfall-Ngai, Lynn Margulis, Paul Martin, Marie Meister, Ira Mellman, Matthew Meselson, Shigekazu Nagata, Carl Nathan, Michel Nussenzweig, Jeffrey Pollard, Michel Rabinovitch, Jeff Ravetch, Arthur Silverstein, Ralph Steinman, Joel Swanson, Alfred Tauber, Irving L. Weissman.

 

Produit par L'Oeil sauvage et France 5, le film documentaire Le Dur Désir de Durer, de Bernard Bloch, fondé sur le dernier chapitre de La Sculpture du vivant, a reçu le Prix Art au 3ème "International Science Film Festival" d'Athènes.
Le film a été diffusé sur France 5 le 24 juin 2008

Les éditions Fayard et le Seuil viennent de publier, en co-édition, le livre de Jean Claude Ameisen: Dans la Lumière et les Ombres. Darwin et le bouleversement du monde.
Cuidado (« sois prudent »), écrit le jeune Darwin dans ses carnets secrets. Révéler ses idées serait « comme confesser un meurtre ». Et il les développera en silence.
La publication de sa théorie bouleversera notre vision du monde. Le passé se recompose, modifiant le présent. Nous partageons soudain avec l’univers vivant une généalogie commune. Faite de transformations et de métamorphoses.
Ce livre est un voyage. À travers l’espace et le temps. A travers la lumière et les ombres. À la rencontre d’une révolution scientifique toujours plus riche, toujours en devenir. À la rencontre aussi de la longue nuit de notre histoire, où la science légitimera la négation de la vie et de la dignité de tant d’êtres humains. Un voyage à travers la mémoire et l’oubli. A la recherche de l’empreinte en nous de ce qui a disparu, de ceux qui ont disparu.
Nous sommes faits de ce qui a donné naissance à l’ « infinité des formes les plus belles et les plus merveilleuses ». Aux bactéries et aux fleurs, aux oiseaux et aux arbres. Et pourtant nous sommes autre. Nous sommes faits de l’histoire des cultures humaines. Et pourtant nous sommes autre. Toujours nouveau.
Ce livre est une plongée dans le récit tumultueux de nos origines. Non pour nous y enfermer. Mais pour y découvrir cet émerveillement « d’arriver à l’endroit d’où nous sommes partis et de connaître le lieu pour la première fois ». Et retisser, chaque jour, les liens qui fondent notre commune humanité. Dans le respect de l’extraordinaire vulnérabilité de ceux qui nous ont fait naître, de ceux qui nous entourent, et de ceux qui nous survivront.

Ecouter. Les matins de France Culture. Invité: Jean Claude Ameisen. Emission du 23/10/08

Sous presse: Les Couleurs de l'Oubli
Editions de l'Atelier. A paraître le 30 octobre 2008
Chercheur en médecine, homme de science et de culture, Jean Claude Ameisen part, dans cet ouvrage, à la découverte de l’étonnant trésor d’un plasticien, François Arnold. Des personnes atteintes d’Alzheimer lui ont fait don de leurs peintures réalisées dans le cadre d’un atelier qu’il anime au sein d’un hôpital. Au fil des pages, des inconnus, vieillards relégués hors de notre vue, lèguent, à travers leurs oeuvres, un véritable testament d’humanité. Cette rencontre entre le chercheur, l’artiste et les vieillards fait surgir des visages familiers : grand-mère, oncle, voisine, amie … un jour partis au loin et jamais revus. Tout invite au déplacement du regard : des poissons enchâssés dans un vitrail, un chat bleu, et blanc, aux jambes jaunes, les yeux bleus grands ouverts, au visage humain, un coq qui déploie ses couleurs flamboyantes… Toute vie, dans sa part de mystère, par-delà ses altérations, par-delà nos peurs, contient une lumière et une beauté ineffaçables. Les quarante peintures présentées dans cet ouvrage en sont la trace fragile et précieuse. Couleurs de l’oubli. Traces de beauté. Premier matin du monde. Promesse d’un printemps dans l’hiver.
Auteurs : Jean Claude Ameisen, humaniste et chercheur mondialement reconnu, livre un très beau texte sur la création, l’oubli, l’humanité. Cet ouvrage est né de la rencontre de François Arnold, plasticien, animateur d’un atelier avec les personnes atteintes de la maladie d’Alzheimer.
L'intégralité des droits d'auteurs du livre Les Couleurs de l'oubli sera versée à l'atelier de peinture l'Arbre à Mains.
Extraits de l’ouvrage.
Les Couleurs de l'Oubli - 1

Les Couleurs de l'Oubli - 2