Research at INEM is focusing on common diseases caused by the interplay of polygenic inheritance and environmental factors. These diseases primarily affect children and the young, and encompass (auto)immune disorders, haematological diseases, infectious diseases, kidney diseases, cystic fibrosis, endocrinological disorders and metabolic diseases. The INEM teams apply insights obtained through basic and clinical research to develop innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
For over 40 years, the development of renal transplants and bone marrow transplants, the phenotyping of autoimmune diseases and genetic diseases, allowed most of the major medical advances of today. The major asset of the Institute Necker-Enfants Malades comes from the plurality of skills, the freedom and creativity of its researchers, their desire to diversify their research topics.
Translational activities will be pursued and promoted as much as possible. Indeed, this group of PIs has filed 24 patents, 4 of which are licenced to pharmaceutical companies. 13 R&D contracts have been signed with industry and 3 start-up companies incorporated with one of the above PIs as founder. To further strengthen the link with the socio-economic world, we intend to devote one floor of our research building to hosting private entities, either small companies or teams from bigger pharmaceutical industries wishing to collaborate with groups of the Necker-Enfants Malades Institute.
The close interaction between the research labs and the clinical departments is one of our major strengths creating a highly dynamic environment and promoting translational and “bench to bedside” activities. Our research programs are consistent with this mission and most groups have very tight connections with the clinics, mostly through clinicians with joint appointments in research labs and clinical departments.
Thirteen research teams are founding members of the Necker-Enfants Malades Institute, which comprises today 20 research teams. The teams are grouped in two departments: a department of Cell biology (Growth and Signalling) and a department of, Immunology, Infectiology and Haematology (I2H).
The Necker-Enfants Malades Institute currently comprises 103 senior scientists, one third of whom are medical doctors, 60 technicians and engineers, 35 postdoctoral fellows and 37 PhD students. Among the 19 teams, 7 have already obtained an award from the European Research Council.