Background
Capron was born on December 30, 1930 in Lens, Pas-de-Calais, France.
educator immunologist parasitologist
Capron was born on December 30, 1930 in Lens, Pas-de-Calais, France.
Capron received a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Lille in 1958.
Capron began his career as a research assistant of parasitology at College of Medicine of Lille University (nowadays Lille University School of Medicine) in 1955 and had held the position for three years. In 1961, he was appointed an assistant professor of parasitology at that college. Then in 1970, André became a professor of immunology and parasite biology at College of Medicine of Lille University, where he worked until 2000. The same years he worked as a head of the immunology department at Lille University Hospital.
In addition, in 1975, Capron took a position of a director of the Parasite Immunology Research Center at the Pasteur Institute of Lille, where he served for twenty six years. He worked as a director of the Pasteur Institute of Lille from 1994 to 2000.
During the 1980s André chaired the first European program on Science and Techniques for Development and served as president of the WHO Bilharziasis Program. Since 2001 he has been a member of the scientific committee of the École normale supérieure. Nowadays Capron is a Distinguished Professor at the University of Lille and Honorary Director of Pasteur Institute.
Capron has discovered many new forms of antibody-dependent cell-mediated immune reactions which were effective in protection against infection with Schistosoma mansoni. He also developed immunodiffusion techniques for the diagnosis of parasitic diseases, some of which are still in use.
André was appointed Commander of the National Order of Merit in 1990, Officer of the Legion of Honour in 2007 and Commander of the Legion of Honour in 2016.
Capron served as president of the scientific committee of Inserm (French National Institute of Health and Medical Research) between 1987-1991, and as president of ANRS (the national society for AIDS and hepatitis research) from 1999 to 2002.
He is a member of the French Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine and an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Belgium.
André Capron is married to Monique Capron-Dupont. They have two children.
