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Prof. François Delange is one of the most prominent physicians of his time in the
fight against iodine deficiency in the world. As a professor of Pediatrics he became
involved in its deleterious effects, especially in children, since the 1960’s. His
most important and groundbreaking work started in Zaïre (Congo), that he traveled
more than 30 times (!) and where he and his collaborators described for the first
time the myxedematous type of cretinism. This condition was not recognized before as
a separate entity and appeared to be caused by iodine deficiency in combination with
a damaged thyroid gland. His group performed numerous field studies that enriched
the knowledge about iodine deficiency tremendously. He authored more than 300 peer
reviewed publications and edited or contributed to 10 books and chapters. He is a
frequently invited speaker and a long-term member of the European Thyroid
Association. He has been a board member of the International Council for Control of
Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD) for many years, being the Regional Coordinator
for Europe between 1986–2001 and its Executive Director between 1995–2001. He also
was or still is a consultant to many international bodies, including the WHO, UNICEF,
IAEA, and other prestigious institutions. He has visited most iodine deficient
countries in the world once or more times. His present position in the ICCIDD is that
of Board Member and Honorary Executive Director. Furthermore he is still consultant
at the Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Saint-Pierre, Brussels, Belgium.
He has been honored several times and received two Honorary Doctorates.
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