Biography
Professor of internal medicine and clinical immunology at Sorbonne Université and Saint-Antoine Hospital (AP-HP), Arsène Mekinian combines clinical, teaching and research work devoted to complex immune-mediated and inflammatory diseases.
His main research lines concern reproductive immunology, systemic autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases, VEXAS syndrome and clonal inflammation, systemic sclerosis, large-vessel vasculitis, and the autoimmune and inflammatory manifestations associated with myeloid malignancies.
His activity brings together the care of patients with rare or complex diseases, clinical and translational research, the coordination of multicentre studies and the development of national and international collaborative networks.
University and medical training
| 1994-2003 | Medical studies, Université Paris-V Descartes |
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| 2003-2008 | Residency in internal medicine, Lille University Hospital |
| 2008 | Specialty degree in internal medicine, Université Lille-2 |
| 2008-2009 | Master's degree “Biology and innovative therapies of the major functions”, Université Paris-Saclay |
| 2009 | Subspecialty degree in allergy and clinical immunology, Université Paris-Diderot |
| 2017 | PhD in science (immunology), Université Paris-XIII. Work on regulatory B cells in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia with autoimmune manifestations |
| Inter-university diplomas: renal and systemic diseases; pulmonary, dermatological and articular manifestations of systemic diseases |
Hospital, academic and research appointments
| 2009-2012 | Chef de clinique des universités, assistant des hôpitaux, department of internal medicine of Prof. Olivier Fain, Jean-Verdier Hospital (AP-HP), Bondy |
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| 2014-2019 | Associate professor and hospital practitioner (MCU-PH), department of internal medicine and clinical immunology, Saint-Antoine Hospital (AP-HP) |
| since 2019 | Professor and hospital practitioner (PU-PH), department of internal medicine and clinical immunology, Saint-Antoine Hospital (AP-HP), Sorbonne Université |
| since 2015 | Systemic sclerosis subunit, Saint-Antoine Research Centre, Inserm UMR_S 938 |
| since August 2020 | Coordinator of the immunohaematology and VEXAS group, Institut Imagine |
| since 2024 | Director of the university diploma in reproductive immunology, Sorbonne Université |
Scientific networks and responsibilities
| since 2008 | Member of the French National Society of Internal Medicine (SNFMI) |
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| 2016 | Foundation of the MINHEMON network, devoted to the autoimmune and inflammatory manifestations of myeloid malignancies; chair ever since |
| since 2016 | Member of the scientific council of the Club Rhumatismes et Inflammations (CRI) |
| Member of the FAI²R rare-disease network | |
| 2020 | Co-foundation of FRENVEX, the French VEXAS syndrome study group |
| 2020 | Foundation of the Santé Arménie association, with the AGBU |
| around 2020, re-elected in 2025 | Board of the Francophone systemic sclerosis research group (GFRS) |
| 2026 | First author of the American College of Rheumatology guidance statement on VEXAS syndrome |
MINHEMON
Founded in 2016, the MINHEMON network is devoted to the study of the autoimmune and inflammatory manifestations associated with myeloid malignancies. It brings together teams in internal medicine, haematology and immunology around cohorts, multicentre studies and research projects on the relations between clonal abnormalities of haematopoiesis and systemic inflammation.
FRENVEX
Co-foundation in 2020 of FRENVEX, the French group devoted to the study of VEXAS syndrome, since its initial description and the identification of somatic UBA1 mutations.
Francophone systemic sclerosis research group
Board member of the Francophone systemic sclerosis research group (GFRS), re-elected in 2025. Participation in the collaborative work devoted to systemic sclerosis and its complications.
American College of Rheumatology, VEXAS syndrome
In 2026, first author of the guidance statement of the American College of Rheumatology on the diagnosis and management of VEXAS syndrome, drawn up by an international panel of experts. The college distinguishes this format from its recommendations (guidelines); the term used here is the one used by the journal.
Clinical trials and studies
| Principal investigator or scientific lead | FaCIL-2 (low-dose interleukin-2 and regulatory T cells in unexplained recurrent early miscarriage); CERTIFY, PHRC 2022 (certolizumab versus placebo in implantation failure); FALCO, national multicentre registry of recurrent miscarriage; HYDROSAPL, interregional PHRC 2017 (hydroxychloroquine in primary obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome, phase II randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial); TOCITAKA (first-line tocilizumab in Takayasu arteritis); AZA-SAID (azacitidine in the immune manifestations of myelodysplastic syndromes, with the Groupe francophone des myélodysplasies); TRANSREG scleroderma (low-dose interleukin-2 in systemic sclerosis); HORTOTOCI (tocilizumab in the ophthalmological complications of giant cell arteritis) |
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| Co-investigator | STATVAS, CHUSPAN2 and SYMPTOMES (national PHRC); ETAP (tocilizumab in primary Sjögren's syndrome, national PHRC); SEDUCE (sildenafil in digital ulcers of systemic sclerosis); RIPS (international scleroderma network); GENPLUS and GENIAL (genetics of familial lupus); SMS (cohort of unexplained splenomegaly); rituximab and belimumab in primary Sjögren's syndrome |
Supervision
| Doctoral theses | Two PhD theses supervised: Laure Ricard and Pauline Beurier |
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| Master's degrees | Five master's students supervised |
| Medical theses | More than fifteen medical theses supervised |
Teaching
His academic activity includes the teaching of internal medicine, clinical immunology and systemic diseases at Sorbonne Université, as well as the training of physicians and researchers at the interfaces between immunology, haematology and reproductive medicine.
Since 2024, Arsène Mekinian has directed the university diploma in reproductive immunology of Sorbonne Université, devoted to the immunological mechanisms of pregnancy and to the pathological situations at the interface between internal medicine, clinical immunology, obstetrics and reproductive medicine.
Institutional responsibilities
| 2016-2019 | Elected MCU-PH representative on the medical establishment commission (CME) |
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| 2017-2019 | Member of the board of Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, Prof. Jean Chambaz's “Réunis” team |
| 2017-2019 | Member of the PU-PH and MCU-PH staffing commission |
| Coordination of the DFASM3 lectures and SIDES lead for internal medicine, Saint-Antoine Hospital |
Congresses
Presentations every year at the congresses of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), of EULAR and of the French National Society of Internal Medicine (SNFMI); regular contributions to the congresses of the French Society of Rheumatology, of the EBMT and of the learned societies devoted to pregnancy.
International engagement
Alongside his hospital and academic activities, Arsène Mekinian takes part in the development of international medical and academic collaborations, in particular French-Armenian ones.
In 2020 he founded the Santé Arménie association, engaged in the development of medical cooperation, training and exchanges between health professionals.
Languages
French · Armenian · English · Russian