Edito.
L'analyse politique d'Hubert Coudurier

European cystic fibrosis conference

Research. The great expansion of the Inserm Unit

28 mai 2009 à 14h12

In Brest, the story of the research into cystic fibrosis started in the 1980s. Today, it is directed by four teams together, the mixed Inserm-UBO-EFS team.

The molecular biology laboratory created by Claude Férec has developed in the last 25 years, growing from two researchers to around fifty today. It was built up patiently, but gained momentum in 1996 with the first Inserm label.

The Inserm effect

« Everything began with Claudine Verlingue, who, alas, died too young. She was the technician and made it her thesis », explains Prof. Claude Férec. Little by little, the laboratory developed and has proved its worth. « At first, we greatly benefitted from charity campaigns to finance our research. Voluntary workers remain very loyal in their actions. » It is true that the researcher, who is simple and friendly, is given general approval, particularly, because he does not hesitate to take time to explain his work, the disease and the hopes of a treatment to the public, even taking part himself in the fund raising sport events organised. Even today. In January 1996, a crucial step was reached, with a first Inserm research contract bringing funds of 76.000 € per year for five years and above all a wonderful calling card attracting young researchers. In the following years, everything went perfectly. The laboratory was recognised Inserm team in 2001 then Inserm UBO mixed unit U 613 and Etablissement Français du Sang (EFS) - French national blood service -, the latter having absorbed the original blood transfusion association. From there, Inserm researchers were recruited and arrived in Brest. Currently the unit, renewed in 2008 with the best possible rating (A +) employs around fifty people.

Four teams

« Despite the distance, we are still seen as attractive by young researchers. The next step is to bring everyone together in a new building near the Faculty of medicine, by the year 2011. At the moment, we are divided among four sites, which does not make communication easy ».
Cystic fibrosis is not the only illness to rally researchers round. There are also other genetic disorders such as hemochromatosis and pancreatitis. The unit, organised into four teams, takes an interest in epidemiology, cellular dysfunctions and also the possibility of treating the sick by introducing new healthy genes into the centre of the cells. In this way Marc Blondel studies protein fold in the unit. As for Laurent Corcos, he is interested in how the genetic message of the CFTR gene passes to proteins. Finally, Pierre Lehn coordinates the gene insertion section. « We work with chemists to help find the most efficient liposomes for inserting healthy genes into the cell. Although there is still a lot of work to be done before we find a treatment, gene therapy remains an important avenue ».