2019 Leonardo da Vinci Award

The European Academy of Sciences has awarded the 2019 Leonardo da Vinci Award to Prof. Pierre Corvol.

In recognition for his many outstanding contributions to the development of major branches of medicine, including the hormonal control of water and salt metabolism and cardiovascular regulation, and his instrumental role in advocating for ethics and research integrity in science.

As both a scientist and a clinician, Pierre Corvol has made pioneering contributions to the understanding of the role the renin angiotensin system in human cardiovascular diseases and their treatment by blockers. His research is paradigmatic of what is called today “translational research”. The renin angiotensin hormonal system plays a major role in the control of blood pressure, cardiovascular regulation and water and salt metabolism. It is involved in many pathological diseases such as high blood pressure, cardiac insufficiency, proteinuria and renal dysfunction in diabetes. The blockade of the renin angiotensin system by inhibitors acting at different levels of the renin angiotensin aldosterone cascade has revolutionized the treatment of these diseases and has saved hundreds of millions of lives.

Pierre Corvol has been Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology) at the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, from 1976 to 1989 and Professor at the Collège de France, the most prestigious academic institution in France, founded in Paris in 1530 (chair of Experimental Medicine – Claude Bernard chair) from 1989 to 2012. He was President of the Collège de France from 2006 to 2012. He is now Professor emeritus and Honorary Administrator of the Collège de France.

Beyond his brilliant scientific career in the medical sector where his discoveries are of considerable relevance to human health, Pierre Corvol has been instrumental in advocating for ethics and research integrity in science. Its implementation i.a. in the training offered to students and researchers in Doctoral Schools and its relevance to “Open Science” and publication policies are of broad international relevance. Professor Corvol’s report on scientific integrity has attracted considerable attention and led to many governmental initiatives.

Pierre Corvol has been scientific advisor to various prestigious institutions. His numerous national and international awards include the Alexander von Humboldt Award (1993), the R. Tigerstedt Award from the American Society of Hypertension (1998), the MSD international Award of the International Society of Hypertension (2004), the Grand Prix de la Recherche INSERM (2006), the Grand Prix de la Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (2010), and the Medal of the Frey-Werle Foundation (2012). Since January 2019, he is the President of the french Académie des sciences.