The Center for Translational Science helps both the scientists at the Institut Pasteur and within its International Network to find applications for their work by carrying out additional research in conjunction with hospitals, with which the Center develops partnerships. The Center offers support for projects at several levels depending on scientists' requirements: it can formalize scientific questions and organize technological assistance, help draft proposals, find essential clinical partners and deal with ethical and regulatory procedures.
Clinical coordination
The Center offers a clinical coordination service which provides support for translational research projects from the early planning stages to the final publication of research findings. This support can involve facilitating access to human samples or health data, enabling scientists to perform biomedical research, and coordinating the development of innovative therapies, vaccine candidates and gene therapies in hospitals.
A technological platform
Translational research projects require cutting-edge equipment. The Center's technological platform has an extensive range of sophisticated equipment to enable scientists to perform translational research, including the facilities to handle infectious human material in complete safety.
A biobank
One of the main strengths of the Center for Translational Science is its dedicated structure for access to biological resources. This structure is responsible for recruiting volunteers—both those in good health and those being treated for health problems—as well as managing samples and related clinical data. A bank of blood samples from more than 250 healthy volunteers is currently available for use by scientists and clinicians.
Two examples of projects
The Center for Translational Science is funding preclinical tests for a strategy to combat the formation of bacterial biofilm, developed in the laboratories of the Institut Pasteur's Microbiology Department. The formation of bacterial biofilms is responsible for hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections.
The Center is also supporting a project in conjunction with the Immunology Department to shed light on the immune responses in skin samples of patients suffering from the skin disease hidradenitis suppurativa. Approximately 700 patients are being monitored at the Institut Pasteur's Medical Center.