International Center for Infectiology Research (CIRI)

Research topics

The CIRI currently includes over 20 teams working with a single aim: to fight infectious diseases, the second cause of mortality in the world.

Infectious diseases cause 15 million deaths each year in the world, and are the second cause of mortality, representing a significant threat for human health, as well as for animal and vegetal biodiversity, with a very severe socio-economic impact. Now, more than ever, infectiology research requires a multidisciplinary approach, with a common aim: to eradicate, or at least control and prevent, infectious diseases. The study and treatment of diseases that are of vital importance for human health clearly demonstrate that comprehending and healing infectious diseases require us to understand the relationship between host and pathogen at the heart of complex networks of interaction, from cell to molecule, right through to individuals and host populations, taking into account their social, geographic, behavioural and nutritional environment.
The CIRI was set up with this vision, as an important stage in the development in infectiology research in Lyon, to foster interaction between the public research community and business, on the Charles Mérieux campus in Lyon-Gerland. The Centre was created on 1 January 2013 by Inserm, the CNRS, the ENS of Lyon and the Claude Bernard Lyon 1 university. With these supervisors and its partners, the Institut Pasteur, the Fondation Mérieux and the Hospices Civils de Lyon as well as LabEx Ecofect and the Fondation Finovi, the activities of CIRI have one objective: to fight infectious diseases.
By way of a multidisciplinary approach, from microbiology (bacteriology and virology), immunology, cellular biology, clinical research and epidemiology, as well as strong connections with the industrial world, the IRT BioAster and the LyonBiopôle competitiveness cluster, CIRI aims to promote an integrated approach in the study of the large number of varied interactions that exist between host and pathogen. Its research programmes include objectives of great interest in infectiology: 1) emerging and highly pathogenic infections, 2) nosocomial infections, 3, cell responses to infection and modulation of innate immunity, and 4) adaptive immunity to tissue interfaces. These programmes are carried out by way of large internal and external collaborations with various partners of the CIRI. Furthermore, around fifteen new teams with expertise in various disciplines connected with infectiology, immunology and microbiology will be gradually recruited to broaden its impact in the field of research in infectiology, and to consolidate its scientific objectives. This should be made easier, in the future, thanks to the setting up of the campus of Lyon-Gerland, a building just for CIRI.

Subjects

• Emerging and highly pathogenic infections
• Nosocomial infections
• Cell responses to infection and modulation of innate immunity
• Adaptive immunity to tissue interfaces

Fields of application

• Immunotherapy
• Vaccination
• Diagnostics
• Screening
• Antiviral molecules
• Gene therapy
• Animal models