Message from Yasmine Belkaid: Progress report before the summer holidays

Please find below a message from Yasmine Belkaid, President of the Institut Pasteur,

"Dear Institut Pasteur staff,

As we near the summer break, I wanted to take the opportunity to share a few words, both to wish you an enjoyable holiday season and also to let you know about some of the latest developments and future prospects for the Institut Pasteur.
 
I would firstly like to extend my sincere thanks to you all for your commitment to the Institut Pasteur. Once again this year, our science has reached new heights, with 1,115 publications and more than 100 new projects funded, numerous theses—and so many other successes made possible by the efforts of each and every one of you, especially our science, whose excellence is confirmed and strengthened every day.
 
This excellence is also down to the Institut Pasteur's corporate departments, which support and strengthen our scientific momentum. The upcoming recruitment of new G5s, welcomed by our Scientific Council for the outstanding quality of the selected applicants, further illustrates this shared ambition and highlights the Institut Pasteur's continued appeal and reputation.
 
These collective successes are yours, and we can take pride in them. They strengthen our confidence as we strive to uphold the Institut Pasteur's values and missions. The Strategic Plan that we adopted in January sets out a clear path: to deepen our scientific excellence while reshaping our support for this mission.
 
But I know that some of you are concerned about the future of the Institut Pasteur in light of the unsettled international context and the acute challenges facing science and our societies today. Like you, I am deeply attached to our institute. And like you, every day I ask myself how we can best preserve its identity, independence and mission. I want to take this opportunity to share some new developments and future directions with you in the areas of governance, labor relations and finance, with openness and transparency. I want us to rise to these challenges together.
 
In the area of governance, we have made several new appointments to key positions in recent weeks, working closely with the Board of Governors. Although each decision has arisen out of a specific situation, they all reflect the same aim: to provide the Institut Pasteur with a unified leadership team capable of tackling the challenges that lie ahead over the coming decades.

   •    The recruitment of a new Senior Executive Vice-President, currently being finalized, is an example of this. The selection process involved both members of the Board of Governors and also Institut Pasteur scientists who are thoroughly acquainted with our ecosystem. The new Senior Executive Vice-President, who will join the Institut Pasteur this autumn, will play a key role in modernizing our labor relations, improving our financial trajectory and rallying support departments behind our strategic priorities.

   •    On September 1 we will also welcome David Fidock, an internationally renowned parasitologist and former PhD student at the Institut Pasteur. He will work closely with Patrick Trieu-Cuot, who will serve as Vice-President Scientific Affairs. Patrick will be responsible for internal scientific administration, while David will coordinate our major scientific projects and support the development of our philanthropic, industrial and international partnerships. David will be on secondment from Columbia University – which will continue to pay his salary – for one year, spending 75% of his time on our campus, before taking up a permanent position in September 2026.

   •    Several other developments also lie ahead. A new interim Vice-President Legal Affairs, with extensive experience in science and team management, joined the Institut Pasteur on July 21. A new Medical Director, whose name will be shared with you very soon, with globally renowned scientific expertise and strong links with national and international clinical research networks, will be joining us in the autumn.
 
In the area of labor relations, I have become aware of the level of expectation on campus on matters such as equal pay, career development and professional support. The situation in some departments has worsened in recent years and urgent action is needed. We are also aware of the reality of the cost of living for many of you, and we will ensure that we take this reality into account as much as possible in the decisions we make going forward. In tackling these complex challenges, I firmly believe in the value of mutual respect and open dialog, and I have complete confidence in the management team and staff representatives to pursue this approach with dedication and determination over the coming months.
 
Finally, we have already had several opportunities to share the reality of our financial situation with you, with full transparency and a sense of responsibility. We are currently taking a number of practical steps in response to these challenges: managing our spending by adopting a rigorous strategy to control our operational costs, and diversifying our resources – whether through innovation, fundraising or harnessing our assets.
 
I would like to conclude with a message of hope and responsibility. The challenges we face are real and numerous, but I firmly believe that we are capable of overcoming them. We have the resources to do so, and above all we share key qualities: unique intellectual integrity and rigor, a strong attachment to our community, and an acute sense of responsibility.
 
I look forward to seeing you again in September to pursue this dialog as we work together to build the future of the Institut Pasteur.
 
I wish you all a very pleasant summer."
 
Yasmine Belkaid
President of the Institut Pasteur