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Health challenges
Vulnerability to diseases varies greatly with age, with increased risks:
- In young children: immature immune system, high exposure to infections
- In elderly people: weakened immune defenses, slowed tissue regeneration
These two life periods – early development and aging – are crucial for understanding mechanisms of immunity, inflammation and tissue repair.
The proportion of people aged 60 and over will have almost doubled between 2000 and 2050, from 12% to 22% according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
How Institut Pasteur responds to this challenge
Institut Pasteur focuses on two priority axes:
- Mother-child relationship during the first 1,000 days (from conception to the first 2 years)
- Age-related pathologies and research for preventive interventions
1. The first 1,000 days of life
- In-depth study of microbiota and its role in long-term health
- Research on the impact of infections and weaning on neurological and immune development
- Development of targeted therapies for young children
- Collaboration with the Pasteur Network and practitioners in France
2. Aging and health
- Multidisciplinary analysis (biology, genetics, immunology, technology) to understand aging mechanisms
- Research on DNA mutations and repair mechanisms
- Study of muscle regeneration and use of organoids to model aging
- Development of treatments aimed at stimulating cellular autophagy and treating age-related hearing disorders
Flagship project: "Mother-child" research program
Objectives:
- Understand the role of mother-child microbiome in neurological and immune development
- Study long-term consequences of weaning and early infections
- Improve precision medicine in mother-child health
- Prevent pathologies related to early dysfunctions in this relationship