Presentation
The Neuroprotection and Remyelinisation team (Neuroprotection et Remyélinisation), CIC 1434, was created in 2024 and brings together, in a single laboratory, researchers and clinicians/neurologists who, through their joint membership of the Clinical Investigation Centre (CIC) of the Strasbourg University Hospitals (Hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg – HUS), are heavily involved in clinical research. These neurologists regularly develop and conduct therapeutic protocols and clinical trials. This environment therefore offers a unique opportunity that is extremely conducive to effective translational research.
Neurorem's main scientific objective is to consolidate and develop translational research in a continuum optimising interactions between preclinical and clinical research activities by testing promising molecules in animal models mimicking human neurological pathologies, and then pushing them through to early-phase trials in humans. Our work also aims to characterise new relevant biomarkers using non-invasive techniques to facilitate the diagnosis and monitoring of the response or of the efficacy of treatments undergoing clinical or Hospital Clinical Research Programme (Programme hospitalier de recherche clinique – PHRC) trials conducted by CIC 1434.
The Neurorem members, who enjoy international recognition evidenced by their numerous high-level clinical and translational research publications (more than 100 articles since 2021), have a wide range of skills and technological tools for the behavioural/symptomatological assessment of the effects of pharmacological molecules in vivo, in vitro and/or ex vivo. Various cutting-edge biochemical, molecular and cellular techniques for studying and characterising pathological biomarkers are used in the laboratory: highly precise and reproducible mesoscale discovery assays of biomarkers, multiplex real-time qPCR analysers, Western blotting systems, materials and devices for histopathological studies, flow cytometry, confocal laser scanning microscope, time-lapse microscopy, calcium imaging, in vivo electrophysiology setups, etc.
Research topics
Our projects study two topics:
Topic 1: Neuroprotection and remyelinisation in MS, peripheral neuropathies and related autoimmune diseases
Topic 2: Myelin biomarkers & predictive medicine in MS and lupus
A cross-disciplinary sub-project is dedicated to identifying therapeutic strategies and biomarkers for innovation that will benefit from the data generated by the 2 research topics mentioned above in order to accelerate our innovation efforts. This sub-project is being conducted in collaboration with Vincent Marion (Adipopharma), who has solid experience in developing innovative activities between universities and industry.
Infrastructure
The Neurorem group is located in a recently opened building (2021), the Strasbourg Centre for Biomedical Research (Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg – CRBS), and our unit is supported by an administrative platform, the CRBS Joint Service Unit (Unité Mixte de Service du CRBS – UMS38) shared with the other laboratories housed in the CRBS building. This administrative platform manages day-to-day business (issuing purchase orders, centralised purchasing of supplies, monitoring maintenance contracts, human resources, booking collaborative workspaces, etc).
Within the CRBS, we have access to an imaging platform (photonics and electronics) and to a functional exploration and experimental resources platform (PEFRE). With a surface area of 1,500 m2, the PEFRE has a conventional breeding facility and a specific pathogen-free (SPF) sector. We also benefit from shared services (digital and IT services, maintenance of scientific equipment, access to liquid nitrogen, dry ice, CO2, demineralised and ultra-pure water, a laundry and glassware).
Academic and socio-economic partnerships
In its previous form (U1119), Neurorem played a major role in the creation of the Neuro-Rhine tri-national consortium, whose subject of study was neuroprotection. This consortium comprising ten partners (Freiburg-Germany, Basel-Switzerland, Strasbourg-France) brilliantly won the extremely competitive EU-ERDF call for tenders (amount obtained: EUR 2.2 million), confirming its exceptional reputation and academic appeal.
On the socio-economic level, Neurorem is extremely active in setting up partnerships. This is illustrated by the high number of industrial contracts obtained (around EUR 2 million for 2016-2023), and this strategy of ongoing interactions with industrial partners (Laboratoires Boiron, Novartis, MedDay Pharma, Genzyme, Odimma) remains active. Our collaboration with Vincent Marion (CEO of AdipoPharma) provides a great opportunity to strengthen our effective strategy for developing socio-economic partnerships.
National and local funding bodies
Neurorem is fully integrated into the policy/strategy developed by the University of Strasbourg to organise research laboratories effectively on the local site. Our group has been involved in the creation of 3 major federations organising local research players on the local university site:
- The Strasbourg Research Federation of Translational Medicine (Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg – FMTS), funded by the University of Strasbourg (EUR 30,000 per year for research leadership), bringing together academic translational research groups and university hospital departments and prioritising 4 programmes including Neurosciences (co-chaired by N. Collongues), Cancer, Infection/Immunity/Inflammation, and Biomaterials-Robotics
- The Neurogenycs University Hospital Federation (Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire (FHU) Neurogenycs) co-chaired by J. de Sèze, director of Neurorem, with funding of EUR 100,000 per year
- Neuropôle Strasbourg, funded by the University of Strasbourg (EUR 30,000 per year)
Neurorem is also one of the 11 laboratories of excellence united in a research consortium (Strasbourg Pain Initiative) which set up the Graduate School of Pain (École Universitaire de Recherche Interdisciplinaire sur la Douleur – EURIDOL), winner of the PIA3 call for proposals with funding of EUR 3.3 million in 2018-2027, which offers an integrated 5-year Master's and PhD training programme).
Our team is also part of The Nervous system facing environmental issues Interdisciplinary Thematic Institute (ITI NeuroStra), which brings together 10 research units and was a winner of the IDEX-2020 call for proposals jointly organised by the University of Strasbourg, the CNRS and INSERM (with funding of EUR 1.944 million). Finally, Neurorem is part of an excellent research environment on the campus of the Faculty of Medicine and the Strasbourg Civil Hospital.
Education, research training and teaching are an important activity for Neurorem members, who are extremely active in hosting and training several postdoctoral fellows, as well as doctoral, master's and bachelor's students. Neurorem members are the coordinators of various training modules that they have designed to teach students at master's and undergraduate levels, namely neurology courses (J. de Sèze), practical teaching in cellular neuropharmacology (C. Patte-Mensah), and animal physiology (A.G. Mensah-Nyagan).