Death of Professor Georges Cohen

It is with deep sadness that the Institut Pasteur management team announces the death of Georges Cohen, Honorary Professor at the Institut Pasteur and Honorary Research Director at the CNRS.

Georges Cohen, born on March 25, 1920 in Istanbul, Turkey, was one of the great figures in the Institut Pasteur's history. After graduating in science in 1941, he went on to complete a PhD at the University of Paris in 1945, joining the Institut Pasteur in 1943.

He initially focused his research on anaerobic bacteria in the genus Clostridium and the production of volatile fatty acids by these bacteria, before turning his attention to the growth and physiology of bacteria, especially Escherichia coli. This led him to work with Jacques Monod, whose Cellular Biochemistry laboratory he joined in 1954 and with whom he made new discoveries in the field. Georges Cohen's subsequent research resulted in the discovery of bifunctional enzymes and the demonstration of the existence of differentially regulated isofunctional enzymes.

After this pioneering work, Georges Cohen was approached by the CNRS to set up an enzymology laboratory in Gif-sur-Yvette, where he worked for 10 years before moving back to the Institut Pasteur in 1969, on a proposal from Institut Pasteur Vice-President Elie Wollman, to direct the Cellular Physiology Department. He remained at the Institut Pasteur until 1989, continuing his structural and genetic research on the threonine and methionine systems, and ended his career at the Genoscope, where he contributed his extensive knowledge on metabolic pathways and bacterial physiology.

Georges Cohen also devoted a significant part of his time to research administration, both at the CNRS and at the Institut Pasteur, serving as a member and Chairman of the Institut Pasteur's Scientific Council and a member of the Board of Directors. Known for his infectious humor and enthusiasm and his natural warmth, he left his mark on the Institut Pasteur not only through his research and collaborative work but also through the training he gave to many students, several of whom went on to work at the Institut Pasteur. It was in his laboratory that the first female President of the Institut Pasteur, Alice Dautry, defended her thesis.

Georges Cohen was an Officer of the Legion of Honor, an Officer of the National Order of Merit and a Commander of the Order of Academic Palms. He died in Paris on December 20, 2018 at the age of 98.

Download the death notice (in French)

 

Pictures

Georges Cohen and his technician, Marcelle Lannes, in Jacques Monod's laboratory around 1954.

Georges Cohen in his office at the Institut Pasteur in 1989.

 

As a tribute to him, the CERIS team invites you to discover, or rediscover, the virtual exhibit dedicated to him by following this link: http://webcampus.pasteur.fr/jcms/c_797649 or to visit the library in person to view many photos of him, text excerpts about him, and photo albums created for his 90th birthday.