Research

Our research programs focus on the immune system and its pathologies and regroup most investigators involved in this field on the Bordeaux campus.

Our global objectives are:

  1. a better understanding of immune system contribution to the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation and cancer or in the control of infections
  2. an improved assessment of the alterations of the immune system resulting in specific vulnerability conditions such as in elderly, chronic infections or inflammation and cancer
  3. translation of this gain of knowledge toward a better treatment of patients.
  4. exploration in interdisciplinary groups of concepts that are central in our research, from immunosurveillance, to tolerance, neuroimmunology and inflammaging

One specific feature of ImmunoConcEpT is to combine basic research addressing mechanistic issues about immune cell activation and interactions with target/partner cells/tissues, and translational research to convert our results into therapeutic trials or to improve patient monitoring. All our projects are developed in close interaction with several Bordeaux University Hospital departments (Immunology, Renal Transplantation, Rheumatology, Internal Medicine, Dermatology, Intensive Care, Gastroenterology, Oncology and Hematology) that are instrumental for optimal development of our studies. Another important specificity of ImmunoConcEpT is to develop an interdisciplinary approach aiming at improving conceptual approaches and modelling in biology and medicine. This conceptual and theoretical approach is entirely integrated into our global scientific strategy. Collectively, we are convinced that the biological and medical sciences must add an intensive and “upstream” conceptual reflection to the traditional (and naturally indispensable) experimental method.

4 Teams for 4 main themes

Team 1

Vulnerability and ageing of the immune system

Team 2

Origins and pathogenesis of Autoimmune and Inflammatory disorders

Team 3

Immunology of Cancer and Inflammatory Diseases

Team 4

Conceptual Biology and Medicine

Technical Facilities

We have locally access to different technological facilities:

  • UMS TBM Core ( http://www.tbmcore.u-bordeaux.fr ) is gathering 10 different technological facilities (Flow Cytometry, Vectorology, L3 Laboratory, Histology, qPCR – single cell RNA Seq, CRISPR, Metabolomic, In vivo imaging, cell encapsulation for 3D culture, proteomic coupled to laser dissection). ImmunoConcEpT members are driving the Flow Cytometry facility.
  • Three Animal housing facilities (conventional, transgenic and A2 facilities) that are crucial for our studies in murine models ( http://www.cgfb.u-bordeaux.fr/en/synthese-animalerie )
  • The Centre for Functional Genomics Bordeaux (CGFB, http://www.cgfb.u-bordeaux.fr/en ) which is a federation of technology platforms, all labelled IBiSA, offering all the scientific communities access to equipment, techniques and expertise in Genome, Transcriptome, Proteome, Metabolome, Biophysical Structure, Bioinformatics and Imaging.
  • Bordeaux University has a very strong Imaging Center (BIC, http://www.bic.u-bordeaux.fr ) which is part of the France BioImaging network, and Euro BioImaging network, and provides access to Photonic and Electronic imaging
  • PARS Biopath Immuno (Plateforme analytique de recherche en santé, CHU Bordeaux) for the immunological analysis of clinical research projects (flow cytometry, proteomic (Luminex, SIMOA) and transcriptomic analysis (Nanostring))

For all the statistical, methodological and bioinformatics analyses of our studies, we have developed close interactions with the epidemiology institute in Bordeaux (BPH: Bordeaux Population Health). We interact more specifically with the team of Rodolphe Thiébault who is developing statistical tools to analyses big data and is devoted to the modeling of immune response. We have also access to the Bioinformatics facility in CGFB.

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