The Institut Pasteur is delighted that two of the winners of the new "Chairs of Excellence in Biology/Health" call for proposals round launched by the French National Research Agency (ANR) are its own scientists. Simonetta Gribaldo and Marc Lecuit were recognized for their innovative and ambitious projects in the biomedical research field.
Simonetta Gribaldo and her Human-Archaea project
Simonetta Gribaldo, a specialist in the evolution and diversity of microorganisms at the Institut Pasteur, was awarded a Chair of Excellence for her project entitled "Human-Archaea: Elucidating key players in cell growth and division of human-associated archaea." The project aims to shed light on the pathways and machineries regulating cell growth and division in methane-producing archaea that are associated with human hosts. Archaea, often identified as microorganisms living in extreme environments, are also stable components of the human and animal gut microbiota. Combining in silico and experimental approaches, Simonetta Gribaldo and her team sought to identify the biological pathways involved in synthesis of the cell wall and its incorporation during growth and division. The project should provide novel insights into the biology of archaea in the gut microbiota, thus opening up a new avenue for research with implications for human and animal health.
Simonetta Gribaldo,Head of the Institut Pasteur's Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell Unit.
Thanks to this Chair of Excellence, our team can explore the biology of human-associated methanogenic archaea in greater depth. We hope to discover novel key processes to improve understanding of these under-researched microorganisms and their roles in human health
Copyright photograph of Simonetta Gribaldo : Institut Pasteur/François Gardy
Marc Lecuit and his FIDELIO project
Marc Lecuit, a physician and scientist at the Institut Pasteur (also affiliated with Inserm, Université Paris Cité and Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital), was awarded a Chair of Excellence for his project entitled "FIDELIO: Fate of infected cells in vivo: mechanisms and effects." The aim of this project is to study the fate of infected cells in vivo. His team will use experimental infection models, human data and advanced technologies to determine the fate of infected cells during infection and the influence this has on microbial dissemination, persistence and transmission, as well as the host response and long-term effects of infection. The project will introduce a novel dimension to infection biology and inspire innovative medical strategies to improve the treatment and prognosis of infections and prevent long-term sequelae.
Marc Lecuit, Head of the Institut Pasteur's Biology of Infection Unit, also affiliated with Inserm (U1117).
This funding will be of crucial importance for implementing our project. It will enable us to describe microbial and cellular dynamics and fates during infection, and to identify their effects over the short and long term.
Crédit photo Marc Lecuit : DR
These funding packages from ANR’s call for "Chairs of Excellence in Biology/Health" proposals (in French) reflect the Institut Pasteur’s continued commitment to scientific excellence and innovation. With this funding, the research of Simonetta Gribaldo and Marc Lecuit's teams could revolutionize our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying various infectious diseases and gut microbiota organization.
Read the press kit with full details of all winning projects