The Jérôme Lejeune Foundation began its work in France in 1995, following the death of Prof. Jérôme Lejeune, regarded as the father of modern genetics for discovering the genetic cause of Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) in 1958. Each year, the Foundation devotes between 4 and 5 million euros to research. It manages a biobank in Paris with more than 20,000 samples and operates 4 medical centers: Paris (which has treated more than 13,000 patients), Nantes (France), Córdoba (Argentina), and Madrid (Spain).

In 2009, the Jérôme Lejeune Foundation established the International Chair of Bioethics Jérôme Lejeune, presided over by Dr. Mónica López Barahona, which promotes training programs, scientific publications, and initiatives in the field of Bioethics.

In 2015, the Foundation set up a permanent delegation in Spain. In February 2023, it inaugurated the first Jérôme Lejeune Medical Institute in Spain, thanks to the collaboration of the Álvaro Entrecanales Foundation, among other organizations.

In 2025, the permanent delegation became the Fundación Jérôme Lejeune España, in recognition of the extraordinary growth of the mission in Spain and with the aim of consolidating what has been achieved while opening new avenues for action, research, and support.

At the same time, Prof. Elena Postigo Solana assumed the presidency of the International Chair of Bioethics Jérôme Lejeune (ICBJL), succeeding Prof. Mónica López Barahona.