IN MEMORY OF PROF. JACQUES-LOUIS BINET

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Prof. Jacques-Louis Binet on December 17, 2024, at the age of 92. He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy in medicine and research.

After training in Paris with illustrious hematologists and oncologists such as Jean Bernard, Georges Mathé and Marcel Bessis, he arrived at the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in 1969 where he started and developed both clinical and biological hematology. He became head of Department of Hematology in 1980 which he directed until 1997. His interest for CLL, a disease which attracted little attention at the time, led to his seminal publication in 1981 describing a simple and robust staging system, still widely used even in the era of genomic medicine. He played a pioneer role in developing and coordinating clinical research on CLL, both at national and international levels and launched the first international workshop on CLL (iwCLL) in Paris in 1979. He was elected member of the French Academy of Medicine in 1996. But in addition to medicine, he had also a passion for modern art, which he taught at the Ecole du Louvre for more than 10 years, and became member of the Academy of Beaux Arts in 2002.

A fascinating man, who trained many young hematologists and raised admiration for all those who had privilege to work with him. Prof. Jacques-Louis Binet will be deeply missed.