Director: Frédéric Saltel

The Inserm U1312 laboratory focuses on cancers with poor prognosis and rare cancers such as liver cancers, triple-negative breast cancer, kidney cancer, leukemia, sarcoma, glioblastoma and onco-dermatology.

Created in January 2022, this new unit brings together 11 teams working in three different areas: Tumor microenvironment & cancer metabolism, Cancer genetics & molecular oncogenesis, resistance to treatment & innovative therapies.

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Director: Julie Déchanet-Merville

Deputy Director: Patrick Blanco

The Immunoconcept research unit (CNRS UMR 5164) focuses on the study of the different actors of the immune system in the context of viral infections, aging, oncology and autoimmune/inflammatory pathologies. This unit also proposes a reflection of the different concepts in immunology through approaches of philosophy of biology. The unit relies on transversal competences combining fundamental researchers (in immunology as well as in philosophy) and clinicians. The unit is composed of 4 teams with distinct and complementary specialties.

Team 1: Contribution of lymphocytes to immune responses

Direction: Julie Déchanet-Merville and Victor Appay

The team focuses on the functions of conventional (alpha/beta) and non-conventional (gamma/delta) lymphocytes in chronic viral infections. It also studies the impact of aging on these lymphocyte populations. For this purpose, this team develops different strategies such as translational approaches in collaboration with clinicians, and in vivo experimental models .

Team 2: Immunology of cancers and inflammatory diseases.

Direction: Maya Saleh and Nicolas Larmonier.  

This team combines transcriptomic (scRNAseq), translational and experimental modeling approaches to study the role of myeloid cells in the immunosurveillance of cancers and in inflammatory pathologies such as ulcerative colitis. 

Team 3: Immunology of Autoimmune Diseases.

Direction: Patrick Blanco and Marie-Elise Truchetet.  

The team seeks to identify the cellular and molecular mechanisms that contribute to the initiation and severity of autoimmune and inflammatory pathologies, including systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic scleroderma, multiple sclerosis and obesity-induced inflammation. These studies are carried out in direct relation to the clinic but also using experimental pathological models.

Team 4: Medicine and Conceptual Biology

Direction: Thomas Pradeu and Maël Le Moine

The team proposes an interdisciplinary reflection on the concepts, explanations and models of current biology. While immunology is their main research focus, this team also works on microbiology, evolution, systems biology, developmental biology and physiology... The team's approach is based on "philosophy in biology and medicine", which is a novel way of combining the contributions of philosophy, biology, experimental biology and medical biology.

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Director: Isabelle Sagot

The Institute of Cellular Biochemistry and Genetics (IBGC) is a basic research institute dedicated to the study of cellular functions using yeast, fungi, mammalian cells, Drosophila and nematodes as models.

Mitochondrial functions and dysfunctions are studied. They encompass a wide range of topics, including aspects of cell biology such as fusion-fission dynamics, as well as bioenergetics and structural studies linking respiratory chain organization to mitochondrial biogenesis and ultrastructure. The role of mitochondria in normal and pathological functions such as apoptosis and cancer is studied. Yeast models of genetic diseases have been developed and are used for drug screening.

The cell cycle in yeast and Drosophila models is also a major area of interest. The mechanisms allowing proper chromosome transmission are being questioned as well as the establishment of polarity and cell rearrangements during entry/exit from quiescence. The mechanisms linking cell growth to the cell cycle and nutrient availability are also examined.

Protein structures responsible for cell death or pathology are explored using yeast as a model to study Aβ folding and the cellular basis of its toxicity. Exploring the specific protein structures responsible for programmed cell death and other cellular responses associated with non-self detection in the original Podospora anserina model.

Approaches including biochemistry, cell biology and genetics are commonly used the majority of the IBGC groups’. The methodologies and technologies used in this institute are very diverse, including crystallography, electron microscopy, live cell imaging, chromatography, etc. All techniques are usually combined with molecular genetics. ​​​​

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Director: Frédéric Bringaud

The laboratory named MFP (Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité) is a CNRS and the University of Bordeaux research unit. The objective of MFP is to increase the general, scientific and basic understanding of host-pathogen interactions related to disease replication and development. Its major goal is a comprehension of the consequences of the molecular interactions at higher levels up to epidemiology and the development of antimicrobial approaches. The MFP is currently composed of seven groups working on virology (HIV, adenoviruses, hepatitis C and B, parvoviruses), bacteriology (enterobacteria, etc.), parasitology (trypanosomes, leishmanias, toxoplasmas) and mycology (Candida).

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Director: Didier Lacombe

The research project of the unit is a translational and integrative approach called "from the patient's bed to the bench side", aiming to decipher the physiopathology of certain rare diseases (RM) and also "from the bench to the bedside", in order to make sure that research discoveries were actually being turned into medical applications for patients.

In this laboratory, this translational approach is divided into two research axes:

- The first axis concerns rare genetic developmental diseases with Goldenhar syndrome or oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OAVS) whose genetic determinism is unknown, and Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome linked to two known genes, CREBBP and EP300.

- The second research axis is based on the study of energy and lipid metabolism in spinal-cerebellar degenerations and Rasopathies (Costello syndrome and neurofibromatosis type I).

The international expertise of the unit regarding the clinical and molecular diagnosis of these pathologies, has allowed the identification of numerous genetic variants in several genes.

In addition, this research axis combines fundamental approach in order to elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms involving the proteins linked to these pathologies and a translational approach in order to understand the alteration of these mechanisms in the features of these diseases. Thus, based on their expertise, they have already demonstrated mitochondrial alterations in certain subtypes of hereditary spastic paraplegia and hereditary ataxia. To go further, this lab develops some projects to understand the importance of mitochondrial morphology and energy function in the development of these pathologies.

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Directeur : Thierry Couffinhal

Director: Thierry Couffinhal

The Unit 1034 Inserm / University of Bordeaux goal is to understand the development and formation of vessels in organ, which is a major issue in the context of developmental biology, regenerative medicine and surgery (ischemic disease and transplantation) but also in oncology and ophthalmology.

Normal tissue function depends on an adequate supply of oxygen to the blood vessels. Atherosclerosis (large vessel damage or macroangiopathy) or diabetes and hypertension (small vessel damage or microangiopathy) reduce vessel lumen diameter and arterial perfusion, leading to tissue ischemia. Myocardial angina, infarction and stroke are major causes of mortality, but also cause hind limb arteriopathy, nephropathy, blindness, pre-eclampsia, neurodegeneration and osteoporosis.

In response to ischemia (reduced blood and oxygen flow), a new form of blood vessel and collateral circulation is established to compensate the lack of perfusion. This natural process is very effective in some patients and protects them from the consequences of atherosclerotic diseases. However, this bypass process shows considerable variation between patients, and the reasons for these differences are still poorly understood and characterized.

A better understanding of the mechanisms supporting the formation and maintenance of functional post-ischemic tissue vessels is crucial for improving the treatment of ischemic pathologies and providing therapeutic options through muscle stimulation of angiogenesis.

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Director: Béatrice Turcq

The INSERM, CNRS and University of Bordeaux facilities and platforms research unit belonging to the department is named TBMCore.

Since 2011, it has grouped together a set of technological platforms open to all academic laboratories in Bordeaux but also in France. Some private companies can also benefit from its services.

Personnel assigned to these platforms ensure their running. TBMCore is regularly supported by the Regional Council of “Nouvelle Aquitaine” for the equipment of its platforms.

The TBMCore platforms are designed for basic and translational biological studies at the tissue, cellular and molecular levels. Their mission is to provide technological support to laboratories, training of users and technological innovation.

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