PARADIGM project with the CRBIP: developing a national biobank for phage therapy

The Priority Research Programs and Equipment initiative on biotherapies – PEPR Biothérapies – recently launched its first call for proposals to support innovative initiatives in the field of biotherapies. Following the review process, six ambitious proposals that will lead to major advances in research and health were selected. These include the PARADIGM project led by the Paris Public Hospital Network (AP-HP), in partnership with the Institut Pasteur and the CEA. The aim of the project is to establish a national biobank of bacteriophages (viruses capable of killing bacteria), which will serve as a key resource to produce effective treatments for resistant infections.
 
Given the health emergency represented by antibiotic resistance, the aim of the PARADIGM project is to develop personalized phage therapy in France by targeting three priority multidrug-resistant pathogens: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii. This biobank will be a key part of the Phagocenter, a new operational center directly linked to clinical requirements. It will help speed up tests determining bacterial susceptibility to bacteriophages through innovative techniques combining artificial intelligence, advanced optical imaging and quality control. PARADIGM will therefore result in a national infrastructure for phage therapy, helping to establish clinical standards and develop a French ecosystem in this strategic field.
 
Within the PARADIGM project, the Collection of Institut Pasteur (CIP), as part of the Institut Pasteur Biological Resource Center (CRBIP), will be responsible for compiling and managing this national biobank for bacteriophages and host bacterial strains.

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