Veyre-Monton, France:- Clermont Auvergne University professor has passed away. Nicolas Barnich was announced dead today, Thursday, the 23rd of May 2024. Nicolas Barnich died unexpectedly, according to reports. His passing is a significant loss to the IBD community. No cause of death has been released. Thoughts are with his family, his wife, and his two children.
Nicolas was an internationally renowned microbiologist who led the M2iSH joint research unit (UMR1071 Inserm/UCA) for around ten (10) years. He was a former student of UCA. Nicolas had brilliantly succeeded in his studies in the Biological Engineering department of IUT Clermont Auvergne and then at INSA Lyon. After a post-doctoral fellowship in the United States, he was recruited at the IUT where he taught microbiology and molecular biology.
He was an active member of the Scientific Committee for six years, contributing significantly to research on Crohn’s disease. His team spent nearly 20 years studying adherent-invasive E. coli (AIEC), a bacterium linked to inflammation in Crohn’s disease, with substantial involvement from AFA. He succeeded Arlette Darfeuille-Michaud, who passed away in 2014.
Nicolas was dedicated to making his research accessible to patients, often organizing lab visits for Auvergne patients through AFA Auvergne, and explaining complex issues simply and warmly. He earned his PhD at Auvergne University and conducted postdoctoral studies at Harvard Medical School, has been an Assistant Professor in Microbiology since 2005 and published around 30 papers.
