CV Science

Christian Gachet MD, PhD Pharmacology

Course and current status

Dr Christian Gachet graduated as a medical doctor in 1985 and gained his Ph.D. in Pharmacology in 1991, both at the Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France. He became a Research Director at INSERM (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale) in 1998. Dr. Gachet is currently the Director of the INSERM Research Unit 949 and the Scientific Director at Etablissement Français du Sang-Alsace.

Scientific summary

The focus of Dr. Gachet’s work has long been the molecular mechanisms of ADP-induced platelet activation and its inhibition by the thienopyridine compounds. This led to the characterization and the identification of some of the platelet P2 receptors. He carried out extensive work on the P2Y1 platelet receptor and the P2X1 receptor. Dr Gachet’s current interest is in general platelet pharmacology (new drugs, new targets), animal models of platelet defects (BSS, MYH9, P2 receptors), mouse models of arterial thrombosis in a context of atherosclerosis and clinical studies on the variability of the response to clopidogrel. Dr. Gachet has published over 180 papers in peer-reviewed journals and over 300 communications in his area of expertise. He also serves as an associate editor of Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

Dr. Gachet has received several distinctions for his work in the field of atherothrombosis. These include the GEHT award for the ISTH congress in 1993 in New-York, the SFH congress award and ASH congress award in 1994 in Nashville. He was presented with the Young Investigator Award at the ISTH congress in 1999 in Washington and the Prix JP Binet in 2004 in France.