Professor Jean-Pierre Naets

We are very sad to announce the decease of Professor Jean-Pierre Naets this10^th September 2012 at Erasme Hospital, Brussels. Jean-Pierre Naets was a brilliant researcher, an outstanding clinician and was recognized by his colleagues and friends as a real gentleman, a very clever man with a very broad culture, a lot of curiosity for all aspects of live and a particular sense of humor. He received his medical degree in 1945. He spent 3 years inCongo where he was confronted every aspect of medical practice: surgery, gynecology, obstetrics as well as general practice. This experience conferred to him deep humanity, generosity and a special skillfulness which helped him to achieve later his brilliant research career. He worked first in the department of Internal Medicine of Saint-Pierre Hospital inBrussels then he moved toBrugmannHospital were he was responsible of the Hematology department. He was Professor of Hematology at the Free University of Brussels since 1987. He was the first to suspect that erythropoiesis was under the control of a humoral factor, and was later able to demonstrate that this factor was produce by the kidney. His extensive work was published in prestigious scientific journals like Nature, Journal of Clinical investigation…But it best award for ever is probably that nowadays millions of people escaped transfusions thanks to erythopoietin. He deserves our great respect and deep greatfulness.