(1932 - 2022)

Professor Luc Montagnier graduated in both Medicine and Biological sciences from the University of Paris. At the age of 23, he became an Assistant at this university. After a fruitful post-doctoral stay in two British laboratories, he spent the majority of his scientific carrier in two renowned French institutions: the Institut Curie and, for nearly 30 years, Paris’ Institut Pasteur.

At Institut Pasteur he founded the Viral Oncology Research Unit within the Department of Virology. This research unit focused on two major areas: first, the study of cancer viruses, primarily oncogenic retroviruses; and second, the biochemical aspects of interferon and malignant transformation, including membrane changes correlated to growth in soft agar. This second investigative focus, revealing a property of cultured malignant cells, was a new discovery by his team.

In 1983, he led the team which first isolated the Human Immunodeficiency Virus /HIV1) and brought forward the first evidence that this virus was the causative agent of AIDS. In 1985 he also isolated the second AIDS virus, HIV2, from West African patients.

His laboratory was also the first to show that a large fraction of the white blood cells of HIV infected patients were prone to die by apoptosis, a process of programmed cell death, and further, to attribute the origin of this cell death to the oxidative stress occurring in the patients, possibly associated with co-infections.

His current work includes the diagnosis and treatment of microbial and viral factors associated with cancers, neurodegenerative and articular diseases, using innovative technologies. As a strong advocate of preventive medicine, he is especially focused on prolonging the active life of an aging population.

Reaching beyond his scientific interest, Luc Montagnier is deeply involved with helping developing countries acquire knowledge of, and access to, modern medicine and preventiion. As President of the World Foundation for Aids Research and Prevention, he has co-founded two Centers for the prevention, treatment, research and diagnosis of AIDS patients, one in Ivory Coast and the other in Cameroon.

Ten years ago, Professeur Montagnier co-founded Chronimed, an international group of physicians treating chronic diseases, including, but not limited to: autism spectrum diseases, Alzheimer's Disease, Lyme, multiple sclerosis and cancer. The group employs various treatment modalities for these multi-factorial conditions, including, alongside allopathic medicine, natural medicine, essential oils, homeopathic remedies and Chinese medicine.

Located in Geneva, Switzerland, Fondation Luc Montagnier conducts cutting edge research, inviting international investigators in various fields. The foundation is also home to associated Chronimed clinicians.

Luc Montagnier has been awarded many Prizes, including Rosen (1971), Gallien (1985), Korber (1986), Jeantet (1986), the Lasker Prize in Medicine (1986), the Gairdner Prize (1987), Santé Prize (1987), Japan Prize (1988), King Faisal Prize (1993), Amsterdam Foundation Prize (1994), Warren Alpert Prize (1998), Prince of Asturias Award (2000) and induction to the National Invention Hall of Fame (2004). He is Commandeur de l'Ordre National du Mérite (1986) and Grand Officier of the Legion of Honour (2009). In 2019 Professeur Montagnier was awarded the Prigogine Prize.

In 2008, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine for his discovery of HIV, together with Françoise Barre-Sinoussi.

Professeur Montagnier served as Professeur for four years at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. He is the author or co-author of 350 scientific publications and of more than 150 patents.