Prof. Éric Vivier

Prof. Éric Vivier is one of the world's leading immunologists and the foremost authority on natural killer (NK) cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). He holds dual affiliations as Immunology Professor at Aix-Marseille Université, where he leads the Innate Immunity Laboratory at INSERM's Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML), and as a senior physician-scientist at Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière in Paris. With over 30 years of combined research and clinical immunology experience, Prof. Vivier has transformed global understanding of innate immune cell biology. His discoveries on NK cell activation receptors (particularly NKp30 and NKG2D) and their role in cancer immune surveillance have directly driven the development of NK cell-based cancer immunotherapies now entering clinical trials worldwide. He balances a world-class research programme with clinical immunology practice, bringing cutting-edge science directly to patients.

Prof. Vivier completed his combined MD and PhD training in France, building his immunological expertise through doctoral research at a leading French immunology centre followed by postdoctoral training at internationally recognised laboratories. He obtained specialist clinical certification in immunology and has maintained active clinical practice alongside his scientific career. He is a Member of the French Academy of Sciences (Académie des sciences) — France's highest scientific honour — and a Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO). He has been elected as a Senior Member of the Institut Universitaire de France (IUF) and holds an ERC Advanced Grant from the European Research Council.

Prof. Vivier's clinical expertise is in clinical immunology, with particular focus on innate immune deficiency, NK cell disorders, and the immunological management of cancer patients receiving immunotherapy. He evaluates patients with primary NK cell deficiency presenting with severe viral infections and haematological malignancies. He is a scientific leader in developing engineered NK cell therapies for cancer — both autologous and allogeneic NK cell-based products — and manages patients enrolled in NK cell immunotherapy clinical trials. He works closely with oncologists to advise on the immunological aspects of checkpoint inhibitor therapy and cytokine-based regimens.

Prof. Vivier's clinical consultation is primarily available for specialist immunology cases and patients eligible for or enrolled in NK cell immunotherapy clinical trials. International patients with rare NK cell deficiency disorders, primary immunodeficiency, or oncologists seeking scientific consultation regarding innate immune therapy may contact his secretariat through Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière or the CIML in Marseille. He consults in French and English. Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport provides excellent connectivity from Europe, North America, and beyond. Patients are advised that this is a highly subspecialised academic consultation and is most appropriate for complex or rare immunological presentations.

Prof. Vivier is among the most cited immunologists in the world, with over 300 publications in Nature, Science, Cell, Nature Immunology, and leading medical journals. He has received the INSERM Award for Research Excellence, the Avenir Prize, and multiple European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grants. He was elected to the French Academy of Sciences in 2019 and to EMBO, reflecting the global impact of his science. He has received honorary doctorates from international universities and the Medal of Innovation from the French Ministry of Research. He is founder and scientific advisor to Innate Pharma, a leading biotechnology company focused on NK cell-based cancer immunotherapy.