Founder of TELEVIE

Prof. Arsène Burny

Founder of TELEVIE — A life dedicated to curing cancer

Emeritus Professor. Academician. Founder of Belgium's largest cancer research programme. At 91 (interview March 2025), still reading the world's top scientific journals daily.

Born 1933 — Active & Dedicated to Research

350+

publications

A life dedicated to research

“My passion is research. When you pay for research, research pays off.”— Prof. Arsène Burny

Son of a Belgian farmer who wanted to understand nature, Arsène Burny chose the path of science. An agronomic engineer from Gembloux in 1958, he obtained his doctorate in Zoological Sciences and taught at Columbia University in New York from 1968 to 1972.

A specialist in molecular biology with more than 350 publications in oncology and AIDS, Prof. Burny presided over the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium (2006) and the Royal Academy of Sciences of Belgium.

Achievements

Career & Achievements

Early Life & Education

Arsène Burny was born in 1933 in Mellery, Belgium, the son of a farmer who wanted to understand nature. He graduated in agronomic engineering from Gembloux in 1958, followed by a PhD in Zoological Sciences at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB).

Columbia University (1968–1972)

From 1968 to 1972, Prof. Burny was Associate Professor at Columbia University, New York, working under Sol Spiegelman. There he helped isolate the first messenger RNA — a fundamental discovery in molecular biology. He also worked at Cornell University.

Scientific Career

Prof. Burny is the author of over 350 scientific publications in oncology, virology and AIDS. He was correspondent (1984), member (1997) and president (2001) of the Class of Sciences of the Royal Academy of Belgium. He received the Belgian government quinquennial prize for applied medical sciences in 2002, the World Cultural Council distinction in 2004, and the title of Officier du Mérite Wallon in September 2012.

Creating TELEVIE (1988–1989)

The idea of TELEVIE was born in 1988 at a lunch with RTL Belgium and FNRS directors. Prof. Burny proposed a solidarity programme for oncological research, choosing childhood leukaemia as the terrain of solidarity. The first TELEVIE edition took place in April 1989, with immediate success. Prof. Burny chaired the TELEVIE-FNRS commission from 1989 to 2025 — 36 years of direct involvement.

Legacy & Recognition

In December 2025, the Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech wing was renamed in his honour. CHU Liège dedicated the Institut de Cancérologie Arsène Burny to him. At the time of interview (March 2025), at 91, Prof. Burny still reads the world's top scientific journals every day.

1933

Born in Mellery, Belgium

1958

Agronomic Engineer, Gembloux (ULg)

1963

Doctor of Zoological Sciences

1968–72

Professor at Columbia University, New York

1984

Correspondent, Royal Academy of Belgium

1989

Founded TELEVIE on RTL Belgium

1997

Member, Royal Academy of Belgium

2001

President, Class of Sciences, Royal Academy Belgium

2002

Prix quinquennal, Applied Medical Sciences

2004

World Cultural Council distinction

2006

President of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium

2012

Officier du Mérite Wallon

2025

Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech wing renamed in his honour

“Ma passion, c’est la recherche !”

“My passion is research!”

— Prof. Arsène Burny

The Story of TELEVIE

How TELEVIE Was Born

The idea of TELEVIE was born in 1988 at an ordinary lunch with RTL Belgium's directors. Prof. Burny proposed TELEVIE — a fundraising programme dedicated to cancer research, choosing childhood leukaemia as the 'terrain of solidarity'.

The first edition, in April 1989, was an immediate success. The partnership with FNRS ensured that money went directly to researchers selected by rigorous scientific evaluation.

Prof. Burny chaired the TELEVIE-FNRS commission from 1989 to 2025 — 36 years of direct involvement in selecting Belgian oncological research.

The result? The childhood leukaemia cure rate rose from near 0% in the 1970s to 92% today. Prof. Burny, at 91 (interview March 2025), still reads scientific journals daily.

December 2025

The Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech wing was renamed in honour of Prof. Arsène Burny — a recognition of a lifetime dedicated to science.

External Links

Arsène Burny Cancer Institute, CHU Liège TELEVIE Belgium Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech

350

350+ publications

350+

in oncology and molecular biology

When you pay for research, research pays off.

— Prof. Arsène Burny

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