Health challenges
Infectious diseases represent one of the main threats to global public health. Each year, they cause approximately 15 million deaths (WHO source) and circulate without borders in an interconnected world.
A major challenge is added to this crisis: antibiotic resistance. Already responsible for 1.3 million deaths per year, it could cause up to 39 million deaths annually by 2050 if no major action is taken.
Among the most vulnerable, children are particularly affected: acute respiratory infections such as pneumonia cause 4 million deaths each year.
The economic impact is also colossal: antibiotic resistance could generate cumulative losses of $100 trillion by 2050, due to decreased productivity, longer hospitalizations and increased mortality.
How Institut Pasteur responds to this challenge
Thanks to its global network – the Pasteur Network bringing together 33 members across 5 continents – Institut Pasteur benefits from a unique capacity to anticipate and respond to infectious crises.
Its 80 research units and 19 national reference centers combine fundamental research and applied expertise to produce:
- Innovative diagnostics
- Effective vaccines
- Targeted treatments
Within the Pasteur 2030 program framework, researchers explore:
- Complex interactions between human hosts and pathogens to better decipher and halt infection mechanisms
- Mechanisms of emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance
- Development of new rapid diagnostic tools, vaccines and treatments to respond to pandemic threats and react to emergences
Flagship projects
Center for Vaccinology and Immunotherapy (CVI)
Based on Institut Pasteur's historical expertise and lessons learned from the Covid-19 crisis, the CVI aims to:
- Develop next-generation vaccines and immunotherapies
- Strengthen collaborations with hospitals, academic and industrial actors
- Contribute to pandemic preparedness by accelerating research in emergency situations
The center is part of European and national initiatives such as the France Vaccine program.
"Amplifying Funds in Infection Biology" Program (EMBL)
By joining the European Molecular Biology Laboratory initiative, Institut Pasteur commits to collaborative research on:
- Pathogen mechanisms
- Host-pathogen interactions
- Human genetics influencing susceptibility to infections
- Innovative strategies to fight AMR (antimicrobial resistance)
Projects exploit advanced technologies: deep learning, computational biology, imaging and structural biology.