Professor Jean-Marie Lachapelle

Professor Jean-Marie Lachapelle was born in Belgium in 1937. He graduated in medicine in 1962 with honours from the Catholic University of Louvain (Brussels, Belgium), and became a specialist in dermato-venereology in 1966. He was awarded a PhD in dermatology in 1970 and was appointed as Professor of Dermatology in 1977. He became Professor Ordinarius Dermatology in 1987.

He was a founding member of the European and Environmental Contact Dermatitis Research Group (EECDRG) and was Chairman in 1987-1989. He was founding member of the European Society of Contact Dermatitis (ESCD) and was Chairman from 1989-1991. He was a founding member of the French Association of Dermato-Allergology (GERDA) and was Chairman from 1989-1993. He was appointed President of the ICDRG in 1997.

Particular awards have included the Certificate of Appreciation of the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to international dermatology, particularly in the area of contact dermatitis (2007) and he delivered the AA Fisher Lecture of the American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS) in 2009 in San Francisco, USA. He is an honorary member of at least 6 national dermatological societies and on 9 editorial boards.

Professor Lachapelle has been the major author of over 25 books, over 100 book chapters and over 360 papers. He has had a very successful collaboration over the years with fellow ICDRG member, Dr Howard Maibach. His practical guides to patch testing written on behalf of the ICDRG have been especially well-received and include:

Lachapelle J-M, Maibach HI. Patch Testing/ Prick Testing. A Practical Guide. Official Publication of ICDRG. Springer, Berlin, 2003, ISBN 3-540-44349-5

Lachapelle J-M, Maibach HI. Patch Testing and Prick Testing. A Practical Guide. Official Publication of the ICDRG. Second edition Springer-Verlag, Berlin 2009. ISBN : 978-3-540-92806-5

Lachapelle J-M, Maibach HI. Patch Testing and Prick Testing. A Practical Guide. Official Publication of the ICDRG Third Edition. Springer-Verlag, Berlin 2012, ISBN 978-3-642-25492-5

Lachapelle J-M, Maibach HI. Patch Testing Tips. Recommendations from the ICDRG. Berlin, Springer; 2014. ISBN 978-3-642-45394-6.

He has published in many areas of dermatology including on hair disorders, fungal diseases as well as the prevention of hand eczema, occupational dermatoses, irritant contact dermatitis, airborne dermatitis and regarding many allergens.

Finally, Professor Lachapelle has provided wonderful historical information regarding the history of patch testing which has been well documented in the following book:

Lachapelle J-M, Maibach HI. Giant steps in Patch Testing. A historical memoir.
Smart Practice®, 3400 E.Mc Dowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85008 USA, 2010. ISBN : 978-0-9773571-2-3

He is married to Marie-Jeanne and they have 3 children.