A professor of hematology at Paris Cité University and head of service at Necker-Enfants malades Hospital, Olivier Hermine combines clinical expertise with fundamental research. His work aims to understand blood cell biology to develop new treatments for blood diseases and other pathologies.
He will take up his position as holder of the Experimental Medicine chair at the Collège de France in 2026. His inaugural lecture, titled 'Hematology, at the crossroads of biomedical disciplines: a back-and-forth between fundamental and clinical research,' will be given on November 3, 2026, followed by his courses starting on November 6, 2026.
Initially drawn to blacksmithing or veterinary medicine, Olivier Hermine turned to medicine after an early confrontation with death. Fascinated by medical discoveries, he decided to become a doctor to understand and treat diseases. He later chose research alongside medical practice, emphasizing the importance of questioning dogmas when current treatments fail.
Hematology, a discipline concerned with blood diseases, appeared to him as a promising experimental field, requiring broad knowledge of clinical medicine. The dual role of clinician and researcher is, in his view, essential for asking the right questions and encouraging fundamental research within clinical groups.
The major challenges of his current research include malignant diseases, such as blood cancers, where the goal is to identify patients who respond to treatments and reduce toxicity. He also works on 'benign' diseases like sickle cell disease, a frequently underestimated genetic red blood cell disorder, and mastocytosis, rare diseases linked to mast cell accumulation.
Olivier Hermine incorporates 'natural' animal models into his research, such as dogs or cats that spontaneously develop diseases, to improve the transfer of discoveries to humans. He regrets that this practice is not more widespread, often hindered by economic considerations.
He highlights the difficulty of financing the development of drugs for rare diseases, as the industry focuses more on common diseases. He has contributed to the creation of two biotechnology companies to foster this development.
In 2008, he founded the national reference center for mastocytosis at Necker Hospital. This center aims to treat patients, organize research on pathophysiology, define diagnostic and therapeutic criteria, and ensure access to care within 150 km of patients' homes. He also participates in European networks and coordinated an Initiative of Excellence on red blood cell diseases.
