France restructures health and life science research

A radical shake-up is to take place in the way research in the life sciences sector in France is to be carried out.

French research institutes and other organisations involved in life sciences are to set up a national health and life science alliance to coordinate research.

Eight partners will be part of the alliance: CNRS, Inserm, the CEA (atomic energy commission) INRA, the IRD, Inra (national institute for agronomic research), IRD (institute of research for development), Inria (national institute for research in computer science and control), the Pasteur institute and the CPU (Conference des presidents d'universite).

French research minister Valerie Pecresse said establishing the alliance fulfils a recommendation by Aeres (research and tertiary education evaluation agency) to rationalise the French research system.

France ranks fifth in health and life science research and although its research is high in quality it needs to reinforce that position. The alliance partners said that to maintain its ranking, France needs operational, scientific and strategic coordination.

The signatories have defined common objectives, both at the scientific level and concerning management of research laboratories, covering aspects such as infrastructures and technological platforms.

The objectives will be implemented through 10 thematic institutes, each comprising a number of organisations (Itmos - institut thematiques multi-organismes).

The Itmos cover molecular and structural biology, cell biology, development and evolution, genetics, genomics and bio-informatics, neuro- and cognitive science, neurology and psychiatry, microbiology and infectious diseases, cancer, circulation, metabolism and nutrition, immunology, haematology, pneumonology, public health and health technology

Heads of member organisations, Itmos heads and various university presidents will sit on the coordination council.