Jean Dausset

Jean Dausset, born on October 19, 1916, in Toulouse, France, was a distinguished French immunologist whose groundbreaking work in the field of physiology and medicine earned him the Nobel Prize in 1980. He shared this prestigious award with Baruj Benacerraf and George Davis Snell for their pivotal discovery and characterization of the genes that constitute the major histocompatibility complex, a crucial component of the immune system.

In 1984, leveraging the financial reward from his Nobel Prize and a grant from French Television, Dausset established the Human Polymorphism Study Center (CEPH). This center, dedicated to genetic research, was later renamed the Foundation Jean Dausset-CEPH in recognition of his significant contributions to the field.

Beyond his scientific achievements, Dausset's personal life was marked by his marriage to Rose Mayoral in 1963, with whom he welcomed two children, Henri and Irène. His legacy in both family and science is profound.

Jean Dausset passed away on June 6, 2009, in Mallorca, Spain, at the remarkable age of ninety-two, leaving behind a rich legacy in immunology and genetics.