2019-2023 STRATEGIC PLAN

Rollout of targeted technological actions on campus: initial focus on the Advanced Light Microscopy initiative

At a time of rapid and dramatic changes in scientific knowledge and methods that is also characterized by the emergence of new health threats, the Institut Pasteur clarified and reaffirmed its priorities and strategic focus for the short, medium and long term via its 2019-2023 Strategic Plan.

The Institut Pasteur’s scientific strategy is focused around three priorities and two concerted actions which have been reinforced with several Targeted Technological Actions (ATC) since 2021.

To provide the campus with a technological environment that is conducive to supporting research, the Executive Scientific Division identified four ATCs launched in early 2021, whose appointed coordinators are key scientists on campus tasked with their implementation, rollout and promotion:

•    Advanced Light Microscopy Initiative

•    Drug Discovery and Screening

•    Artificial Intelligence

•    Single Cell Resources Initiative

 

Focus on the Advanced Light Microscopy ATC: challenges, news and upcoming events

For the past few years, optical instrument development has been intensified in different Institut Pasteur units to specifically address biological questions for which the commercial instruments currently available are ill-suited; this trend has also been seen in other research organizations. This issue was identified by the Executive Scientific Division and the SPAIS (Department for Scientific Programming and Incentive Actions) in conjunction with scientists on campus, and supported by the implementation of the dedicated "Advanced Light Microscopy" ATC in 2021. This aspect embodies the need to pool and combine complementary scientific expertise in order to resolve biological questions. The multidisciplinary approach involves physicists, developers and biologists.

This advanced optical microscopy initiative led by the ATC’s coordinators Nathalie Aulner, Thomas Gregor and Gaël Moneron, brings together the Institut Pasteur’s optical developer community with the aim of promoting this unique expertise on campus and meeting the future imaging needs of other units through three core missions:
 

  • monitoring of scientific and technological developments, and the spread of cutting-edge knowledge on optical microscopy on campus. These two aspects notably rely on the implementation of a journal club on optics and the organization of seminars and lectures.

  • education and training in advanced optical microscopy to allow users to derive maximum benefit from new imaging techniques. Campus developers are involved in classes or workshops on fluorescence microscopy while at the same time striving to improve their knowledge of new techniques and technologies on a self-training basis.

  • development of new instruments and microscopy methods to meet the needs of targeted biological projects.

This approach addresses one of the Institut Pasteur’s specific needs, which is to work differently in this field to develop cutting-edge instruments. There is also a strong desire to bring together the optical developer community to foster discussions and projects and share tools. To achieve this aim to share knowledge and equipment, a dedicated ATC ALM space will be opened very shortly. This aim to support sharing and interdisciplinarity will be possible in a single place and help with the ATC’s organization and, ultimately, meet the needs of projects conducted on campus. To date, three microscopes addressing three Institut Pasteur targeted biological projects have been developed and today provide prototypes for presentation by the relevant host teams.

 

Save the date: the ATC ALM is organizing a meeting for all, and particularly those interested in finding out more about this initiative at 2pm on October 7, 2022 in the François Jacob auditorium. All are welcome to attend the open day of the future dedicated space (former "techlab" space, room 27-01-04b). Further information about the event will be provided in an upcoming newsletter. If you have any questions in the meantime, please email ALM@pasteur.fr.

As part of its rollout, several other events and initiatives will be organized by the ATC ALM (funding for hosting Master’s students, purchase and sharing of tools for measuring and validating optical facilities, workshops, etc.).

Information will be provided in your newsletter. To find out more, attend the open day on October 7 for the official kick-off and a little taster of many exciting discoveries to come.

 

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