معرفی
Professor Jean-Laurent Casanova is a leading figure in human genetics and immunology, serving as Head of Laboratory at the Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases (Université Paris Cité/Institut Imagine) and Professor at The Rockefeller University. He specializes in studying monogenic determinants of severe infectious diseases in children, focusing on inborn errors of immunity. His work bridges clinical observation with genetic research, revealing how genetic mutations predispose individuals to life-threatening infections like tuberculosis, influenza, and herpes simplex encephalitis.
Education: MD (1987, Université Paris Descartes); PhD in Immunology (1992, Université Pierre & Marie Curie). Key career milestones include co-founding the Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases in 1999 and becoming a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (2014). He holds dual affiliations in Paris and New York, emphasizing transatlantic collaboration.
Research interests include identifying genetic mutations underlying susceptibility to mycobacterial diseases, viral pneumonias, and fungal infections. His team pioneered discoveries such as IFN-γ pathway deficiencies and TLR3 immunodeficiencies, reshaping understanding of host-microbe interactions. Recent work explores autoantibodies to type I IFNs in severe COVID-19 and genetic drivers of yellow fever vaccine adverse reactions.
Notable awards include the 2025 Novo Nordisk Prize and election to the US National Academies of Sciences and Medicine. His lab employs cutting-edge genomic approaches, including next-generation sequencing, to uncover genetic variants linked to infectious disease outcomes.
Current projects include studying rare immunodeficiencies (e.g., SNORA31 mutations in HSV susceptibility) and translating genetic insights into clinical care. Collaborations with institutions like CENTOGENE advance rare disease research. He mentors over 20 PhD students and postdocs, fostering the next generation of immunogeneticists.
