Philippe Beaune, Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Health of Université Paris Cité, has received the institution's 2026 Medal of Engagement. A pharmacist and Doctor of Science, he dedicated 55 years of his career to research, teaching, and hospital work.
His academic and hospital-university career, which began as an assistant in 1971, saw him hold key positions at the Faculty of Medicine Paris Descartes and the Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou (HEGP). He notably led the biochemistry department for 16 years and the UMRS 490 INSERM unit for 8 years.
An internationally recognized specialist in xenobiotic metabolism, Philippe Beaune is the author of nearly 330 scientific articles and was among the first to purify, clone, and express human CYPs. His pioneering research led to three patents and the creation of the start-up COGITh.
Throughout his career, he also organized three international congresses and held significant responsibilities within scientific societies and national and international scientific committees, including for the AP-HP and INSERM.
Appointed scientific integrity referent for the Faculty of Health in 2022, he is also a Knight of the Légion d’honneur (2011 promotion). Philippe Beaune expressed his immense pleasure and honor in receiving this medal, viewing it as validation of his total commitment to public service, from research to teaching.
Although he officially retired in 2017, he continued to work at the hospital for three years. He is now actively involved in the local and cultural life of his city, Étampes, organizing conferences and themed days. He is currently preparing a History thesis on the role of scientists in the intellectual and political debate from the 1930s to the 1950s.
