Dr. Jean-Michel Pawlotsky is a world-renowned hepatologist and virologist whose pioneering work has transformed the understanding and treatment of viral hepatitis. He currently serves as Professor of Medicine at the University of Paris-Est and Director of the Department of Virology at the Henri Mondor University Hospital in Créteil, France. He also directs the National Reference Center for Viral Hepatitis B, C and D, a critical hub for national surveillance and expert guidance on viral hepatitis management. After earning his medical degree in hepatology and gastroenterology in 1992, he established himself as a leading authority in viral hepatitis through his thesis in molecular virology at the University of Paris and specialized training at the Pasteur Institute. His career has been marked by strategic leadership roles including Secretary General of the European Association for the Study of the Liver from 2005 to 2009.
Dr. Pawlotsky's groundbreaking research on hepatitis C virus began in 1991, shortly after its discovery, establishing him as one of the field's earliest and most influential investigators. He created the National Observatory of HCV Resistance to Antivirals and developed France's only platform for phenotypic characterization of HCV resistance-associated substitutions, significantly advancing precision treatment approaches for hepatitis C. His laboratory discovered a novel family of non-peptide small molecule cyclophilin inhibitors, representing a promising new avenue for antiviral therapy development. His team's elucidation of molecular mechanisms by which HCV proteins induce carcinogenesis, including how NS5A nuclear translocation activates host-cell gene transcription, has provided fundamental insights into viral hepatocarcinogenesis. These contributions have been disseminated through over 500 peer-reviewed publications that have shaped clinical guidelines and therapeutic approaches worldwide.
Beyond his laboratory achievements, Dr. Pawlotsky has served as Associate Editor for two premier journals, Hepatology from 2001 to 2006 and Gastroenterology from 2011 to 2016, significantly influencing the direction of liver disease research publication. He has delivered more than 650 invited lectures at international conferences, establishing himself as a sought-after authority who bridges virology, hepatology, and oncology. His current research integrates clinical, virological, and pathological approaches to develop new targets for curative and preventive therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma. As director of the Viruses-Hepatology-Cancer research team at the Mondor Institute of Biomedical Research, he continues to lead innovative work that spans from basic viral mechanisms to clinical applications, maintaining his position at the forefront of viral hepatitis research for over three decades.
