Research clusters

The INRT project involves all the teams of IGBMC, which is a pioneering center for the study of eukaryotic gene expression, for structural analyses of factors involved in these processes, and for the identification of genes involved in human genetic diseases. The INRT project is aimed to determine i) how protein complexes assemble in a spatio-temporal manner to coordinate gene expression, ii) how the interplay between intrinsic gene regulatory networks and extrinsic cues control the acquisition, the maintenance and the dynamics of specialized cell states and cellular identities in time and space, and their impact on organ building and iii) how dysregulation of these processes lead to diseases. One of the major challenge of INRT is to establish a new transversal research axis on computational biology to integrate data from complementary biological systems to model complex gene regulatory networks, how they are altered by environmental cues, identify key nodes and generate predictive models explaining the behavior of complex systems in physiology and disease.

LabEx HepSYS consists of a team gathering highly qualified molecular and cellular scientists, bioinformaticians, hepatologists and liver surgeons from the Institute of Viral and Liver Disease (University of Strasbourg, Inserm Unit U1110), and the University Hospital of Strasbourg (HUS). A key strength of the LabEx HepSYS is the full integration of basic, translational, and clinical research, along with the establishment of strong collaborations and networks of excellence with leading experts from the field at local and international level. Since its creation in 2011, HepSYS has made major contributions to the field, supported by a long-standing track record, in the understanding of viral and metabolic pathogenesis of liver disease and their translation into clinical applications, including the development of novel preventive and therapeutic strategies. Key aims of HepSYS are: (1) unravel the cell circuits driving liver disease progression, (2) develop innovative patient-derived models for liver disease, (3) characterize SARS-CoV-2 / HBV / HCV /HDV - hepatocytes interactions, (4) translate discoveries into novel therapeutic strategies. By providing a novel understanding of liver disease biology and by discovering novel targets and biomarkers, HepSYS program aims to impact the management of patients with liver disease and liver cancer in France, Europe, and beyond.

The LabEx MitoCross gathers six internationally recognized leading teams studying mitochondria, hosted by two Strasbourg Institutes, GMGM and IBMP. The research project of MitoCross consortium is declined in four main axes aiming to describe the evolutional diversity of the mitochondrial systems, their macromolecular machines, the mechanisms of molecular trafficking involving mitochondria and the application of the newly acquired knowledge to better understand mitochondrial dysfunctions and palliate to them. A particular focus will be made at methodological innovation and elaborating and exploiting novel tools. MitoCross offers an unprecedented local concentration of interdisciplinary expertise covering most of the mitochondria-related fields of research, encompassing many biological models (fungi, photosynthetic organisms, mammals including human) and a broad panoply of technologies (biochemistry, molecular and structural biology, cell biology, biomedicine, genetics and bioinformatics).

The NetRNA consortium involved 11 internationally renowned teams coming from two top-level interdisciplinary research institutes (IBMC, IBMP) that aim to foster an understanding of the RNA-based strategies that co-evolved in pathogens and their hosts to modulate detection and clearance of pathogens by the host immune systems. The teams investigate the roles of RNA machineries in cell-to-cell communication, in the physiology and behavior of pathogens during infection, in the detection and neutralization of non-self nucleic acids, and in modulating the interaction of pathogens with insect vector. Fundamental processes are scrutinized including epigenetic regulation, genome integrity, transcription, translation, RNA degradation, RNA and protein modifications. Comparative study of model organisms (insects, plants, human cells) and pathogens (i.e., Staphylococcus aureus, Plasmodium falciparum, arboviruses, herpesviruses, arthropod-borne poleroviruses…) will uncover both the specificities and common traits of each pathosystem. RNAs are also exploited as innovative tools for biotechnological, medical, and agronomical applications.