Alexis Carrel

Who was Alexis Carrel?

Alexis Carrel was a French surgeon and biologist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1912 for pioneering vascular suturing techniques. He invented the first perfusion pump with Charles A. Lindbergh opening the way to organ transplantation. Like many intellectuals before World War II he promoted eugenics. He was a regent for the French Foundation for the Study of Human Problems during the Nazi occupation of Vichy France which implemented the eugenics policies there; his association with the Foundation led to investigations of collaborating with the Nazis. He died a broken man after constant press attacks as a Nazi collaborator and his support of policies of gassing undesirables fully came to light.