The ESC is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Professor Alain Cribier; a revolutionary who devoted his life to innovation in cardiology, enabling millions of patients to live longer lives.
Alain Cribier was awarded the ESC Gold Medal in 2016 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to cardiology, having developed new interventional technologies for the treatment of valvular heart diseases: Balloon Aortic Valvuloplasty in 1985, Mitral Commissurotomy in 1994, and after 15 years of research, the Transcatheter Implantation of Aortic Valves (TAVI), performing the first world case in Rouen, France in 2002. This last breakthrough technology, now widely used throughout the world, changed the face of medical practice.
Alain Cribier was a giant in his field, and he combined his great expertise with a touching kindness and modesty. We have lost a friend, a scientist, clinician, mentor and above all an outstanding personality whose legacy continues to save lives every day.
Our mission: To reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.