Jean Fourmentin-Guilbert

Ever since his adolescence, Jean Fourmentin-Guilbert has been passionately interested in what was then described as «the Mysteries of life». At that time, he was amazed by the sharp contrast between the quantum mechanics and relativity theories which explained many non trivial features of our universe, whereas the self-structure of life systems remained a "mystery" without any scientific explanation.

Jean Fourmentin-Guilbert graduated in engineering from the "Arts et Métiers" school. He set up his own company at 25 in order to devote himself, later on, to research in biology which fascinated him. While managing his company, he went back, at the age of 40, to university to pass a Master's Degree in Molecular Biology and an "A.E.A." (an Extensive Studies Certificate) in Biophysics.

As an engineer, he was immediately struck by several observations:

• The new concepts formulated from 1945 to 1965 opened up vast fields for exploration, but the tools and methodologies used by biologists were not adapted to the size of the task.

• No major multi-field coordinated research projects, no projects for developing instruments specially for Molecular Biology had been launched,

• The majority of physicists and engineers (even chemical engineers), knew nothing about Molecular Biology and did not feel concerned by this new science,

• Finally, the general public, even the educated one, had not the slightest knowledge about the most elementary biological mechanisms.

1970 - 1989: THE FIRST INITIATIVES

 In 1970, Jean Fourmentin-Guilbert challenged the biologists with a "Call to program Research into Molecular Biology". In particular, he proposed two large instrumental projects:

• High-speed deciphering of genomes,

• The visualization in space of macromolecules.

These instruments would have become as essential to biologists as particles accelerators to physicists or telescopes to astronomers.

From 1978 to 1984, Jean Fourmentin-Guilbert increased his efforts towards biology by establishing the« METANIC Prize ». This 100.000 French Francs Prize was awarded every two years to one or two researchers on the theme: « Prospective analysis of the techniques to be developed for visualizing structures and functional dynamics of biological macromolecules».

This Prize was meant as a first step towards future instrumentation. Researchers were now aware of the capabilities of this instrumental approach and it proved that the idea of a "dynamic visualization system of molecular structures" rather ambitious in 1970, was now possible.

 In 1985, Jean Fourmentin-Guilbert launch a new project called "VI.DY.MA" (Molecular Dynamic Visualisation) together with large French companies such as Rhône-Poulenc Roussel-Uclaf, Sanofi, Organibio. The project did not take off as shortly after, the CNRS (public research center) and the CEA launched two similar projects: IMABIO and PROTEINES 2000.

 Thirty years later, thanks to the "Human Genome" project, things have greatly improved. But unfortunately, in spite of the exceptional initiative from GENETHON, French research remains absent from these new technologies.

1990: THE CREATION OF THE FOUNDATION

With the objective to be an actor of change in biology, Jean Fourmentin-Guilbert put aside his industrial activity and set up and finance a scientific foundation whose aim is : « To promote biology ». In 1990, the Foundation was state-approved, after two years of procedures.

In 2004, Jean Fourmentin-Guilbert died in a mountain accident. He was 76 years old.