Prof. Dr. Claude Debru

Research Priorities: History of science and medicine, philosophy of life sciences, history of molecular biology, sleep research
Claude Debru is a French philosopher. His work focuses on the history of science and medicine, and he has written on topics including the history of protein chemistry and molecular biology, the history of sleep, and neurophysiological research into dreaming.
Claude Debru investigates the history of various medical disciplines. In his work on the history of biochemistry he has compared papers on the mechanisms of photosynthesis as well as photochemical and enzyme research. He has collaborated with professors from the field of leukaemia research on books about the history of haematology. He examines protein structure-function relationships and demonstrates how deriving structures from functions remains problematic.
Following a stay at the Laboratory for Experimental Medicine in Lyon he focused on the physiology and psychophysiology of sleep and dreams, and examined neurophysiological, neurochemical, and clinical sleep research. Theoretical hypotheses about the functions of paradoxical sleep were a key focus.
He has written about the epistemology of the possible and about the history and philosophical issues associated with biotechnology. This includes investigating the link between scientific and technological innovations and uses philosophical reflection to illuminate scientific progress.
Claude Debru has worked on national and international committees to raise awareness of the importance of the history of science. Part of this work involved helping to develop the Centre documentaire de CAPHÉS, a documentation centre and archive focused on the history of science and philosophy. Claude Debru donated his own professional archive as well an extensive collection of monographs on the history of science and technology, the history of neuroscience and medicine, and journals to the centre.