It gives me great pleasure to announce that Dr. Ali Bazarbachi, professor of medicine (hematology/oncology) with tenure; professor of anatomy, cell biology, and physiological sciences; and director of the Stem Cell Transplantation Program at AUBMC, has been unanimously elected as a member of the French National Academy of Medicine.
Established in 1820, the Académie Nationale de Médecine is one of the world's most prestigious scientific institutions, advising the French government on matters of public health while advancing medical ethics and global scientific knowledge. It is composed of leading minds in biomedical sciences whose work has shaped international medical practice. Election to the academy is a singular distinction, reserved for individuals who have demonstrated significant contributions to medicine, both in research and public service. Past awardees and members have included Nobel laureates, global public health leaders, and pioneers in their fields. Dr. Bazarbachi now joins their ranks as one of only two physicians in Lebanon.
Dr. Bazarbachi's contributions to the fields of hematology, oncology, and stem cell transplantation have long been recognized within the global medical community. A physician-scientist, his pioneering work spans from basic and translational research, to clinical excellence, to shaping therapeutic protocols that have saved and improved lives across our region and beyond. He is also known for his devotion to mentoring future generations of physicians and scientists, along with an enduring commitment to patient care. As a researcher and clinician, he has co-authored more than 400 peer-reviewed articles in the world's leading journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine, Science, The Journal of Experimental Medicine, Nature Communications, and The Lancet Oncology.
His original research has consistently advanced the field. Under his leadership, AUB's Stem Cell Transplantation (SCT) Program has become the largest in Lebanon and one of the most advanced of the region. Accredited by the Joint Accreditation Committee of ISCT-Europe and EBMT (JACIE), the program has performed over 1,500 transplants to date, with survival outcomes surpassing global averages. His work has shaped protocols for the treatment of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and acute myeloid leukemia, establishing AUBMC as a regional leader in oncological care. He recently established the CAR-T cellular therapy program at AUBMC, treating our first patient successfully just last week.
He earned his MD and PhD from the University of Paris VII before joining AUB where he steadily rose through the ranks and served in several key academic and administrative positions. In addition to his current roles, he has served as president of the Lebanese Society of Hematology and currently chairs both the Lymphoma Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's Lymphoma Group for the Middle East and North Africa.
This is not Dr. Bazarbachi's first such distinction. His past awards include the French Academy of Medicine Prize, the King Hussein of Jordan Prize, the National Order of Merit from Lebanon, the Hafez Kobeissi Prize for Excellence in Scientific Research, and the French Ligue Contre le Cancer Prize. This latest election to the French National Academy of Medicine recognizes his lifelong dedication to advancing cancer therapy and stem cell transplantation.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Ali Bazarbachi on this extraordinary and well-earned accolade.
Best regards,
Fadlo R. Khuri, MD
President