Dr. Bernard Henrissat is a distinguished biochemist and global authority in glycosciences with unparalleled expertise in carbohydrate-active enzymes and their classification. He currently serves as a Novo-Nordisk Foundation Professor in Enzyme Discovery at the Technical University of Denmark where he has been a Professor in the Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine since April 2021. Prior to his appointment at DTU, Dr. Henrissat held a prominent position as a Research Director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research in Marseille, establishing himself as a leading figure in enzyme discovery and carbohydrate metabolism. His transition to Denmark represented a significant consolidation of European expertise in biocatalysis, bringing his internationally recognized scholarship to one of the continent's premier technical institutions while maintaining his status as an Emeritus CNRS Research Director.
Dr. Henrissat's pioneering creation of the CAZy database has established the definitive classification system for enzymes involved in carbohydrate synthesis and breakdown, serving as the cornerstone resource for glycoscientists worldwide with his work accumulating over 170,000 citations. His groundbreaking research on the molecular mechanisms of mucin degradation has provided critical insights into host-microbe interactions with profound implications for understanding human gut health and disease pathogenesis. The CAZy database he founded continues to evolve as the gold standard reference, enabling systematic study of carbohydrate-active enzymes across diverse biological systems from environmental microbiomes to human pathogens. His innovative approaches to enzyme classification have catalyzed numerous advances in biotechnology, particularly in the development of enzyme-based solutions for sustainable biomass conversion and therapeutic applications.
Beyond his research achievements, Dr. Henrissat has been instrumental in shaping the global glycoscience community through his leadership and collaborative initiatives, most notably his prestigious election to the French Academy of Sciences in 2023 within the Division of Chemical, Biological and Medical Sciences. He actively contributes to scientific governance as a valued member of the IECB Scientific Advisory Board since 2025, providing strategic guidance to advance interdisciplinary research at the chemistry-biology interface. His mentorship has cultivated a generation of scientists who continue to expand the frontiers of enzyme discovery and carbohydrate biochemistry across academic and industrial settings. Currently focused on elucidating the complex enzymatic machinery involved in carbohydrate metabolism, Dr. Henrissat's ongoing work promises to unlock novel biotechnological applications with significant potential for sustainable chemistry and healthcare innovation worldwide.
