Published on 07.05.2026
It is with immense sorrow that the Board, the general management, the researchers, the physicians, and all the teams of Institut Imagine announce the passing of Professor Claude Griscelli. A pediatrician and world-renowned immunologist, former Director General of Inserm and Founding President of Institut Imagine, Professor Griscelli leaves behind an invaluable scientific and human legacy, entirely devoted to children’s health and biomedical research.
Born on March 2, 1936, in Rabat, Morocco, Claude Griscelli always maintained an unbreakable bond with his native land. After brilliant studies at the Lycée Gouraud in Rabat, he came to Paris to pursue an exceptional medical career. As a resident at the Greater Paris University Hospitals, he developed a very early passion for pediatrics and immunology, training under the greatest masters of his time before perfecting his expertise in the United States. Upon his return to France, he dedicated his career to Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, where he created the specialty of pediatric immunology. He founded a school of thought and contributed to the emergence of a generation of highly talented physician-researchers.
Professor Griscelli was, above all, a physician driven by a profound humanity and an unrelenting quest for solutions for his young patients. Confronted with the distress of families affected by rare and often incurable diseases, he always refused to accept fate. A bold pioneer, he was one of the first to perform bone marrow transplants to save children with severe combined immunodeficiency, known as “bubble babies,” and initiated the first steps in gene therapy. His work led to the description of several genetic diseases, including one that bears his name, Griscelli disease. He was a visionary, deeply open and inclusive, who constantly promoted interdisciplinarity. His role in the creation of the Institut Imagine illustrates this vision: bringing together within a single institute the expertise needed to advance the understanding and treatment of genetic diseases.
His vision extended far beyond the walls of his laboratory. Convinced that research must be as close to patients as possible, he worked tirelessly to bridge the gap between basic science and clinical practice. This conviction led him to found the Institut Imagine in 2007, at the very heart of Hôpital Necker. Thanks to his determination, Imagine has become Europe’s leading hub for research, care, and teaching on genetic diseases, today bringing together hundreds of researchers and physicians around a common goal: to cure genetic diseases.
Professor Griscelli’s commitment was also demonstrated at the helm of Inserm, where he served as Director General from 1996 to 2001. Under his impetus, the institute opened up further to the hospital and university worlds, fostering the emergence of translational medicine and the creation of clinical investigation centers. His action profoundly modernized the French biomedical research. A visionary, he was one of the first to promote close integration between research and clinical medicine, long before it became an established norm.
A man of heart and action, Claude Griscelli always placed solidarity at the center of his life. Deeply moved by the hospitalization conditions of children and their separation from their families, he founded Fondation des Hôpitaux de Paris-Hôpitaux de France in 1989 and was behind the famous “Pièces Jaunes” (March for a Dime) campaign. This initiative has funded thousands of projects, including parents’ houses, durably transforming the daily lives of hospitalized children and their loved ones.
True to his roots, he also worked to advance research and medicine in Morocco. An Associate Member of Hassan II Academy of Sciences and Techniques, he fostered scientific exchanges between France and Morocco, supporting the training of young Moroccan researchers and the creation of strong institutional partnerships.
Professor Claude Griscelli was a builder, a physician of rare kindness, and a scientist whose discoveries saved countless lives. Institut Imagine, which he dreamed of and brought to fruition, will continue to uphold his values of excellence, innovation, and humanity.
The entire community of Institut Imagine shares in the grief of his family, his loved ones, and all those who had the privilege of working at his side.
Philippe Wahl, Chairman of the Board of Directors,
Prof. Arnold Munnich, former President,
Prof. Bana Jabri, Director General of Institut Imagine,
Prof. Alain Fischer, former Director General,
Prof. Stanislas Lyonnet, former Director General,
Guillaume Huart, Deputy Director General.
Contact presse :
- Head of Communications and Public Affairs:
Corinne de Conti – corinne.deconti@institutimagine.org – 06 72 38 76 42