French life sciences research centre at IGBMC specializing in gene regulation, chromatin biology, cardiac imaging, and disease model infrastructure.
CERBM-GIE operates as the administrative backbone of the Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC) in Strasbourg, one of France's premier life sciences research centres. Their work spans molecular and cellular biology, with deep strengths in gene regulation, chromosome organization, and disease modelling — particularly in hematological diseases, cardiac development, and metabolic disorders. They maintain advanced imaging infrastructure (light sheet microscopy, optical tweezers) and animal model facilities (mouse and zebrafish), making them both a research performer and infrastructure provider for European biology networks.
Coordinated TRANSREG (RNA polymerase regulation) and CHROMTOPOLOGY (chromosome dynamics), and participated in 3D-REPAIR (DNA repair and chromatin), PEP-NET (predictive epigenetics), and PlastiCell (cellular reprogramming).
Participated in 4DHeart and EVALVE on heart valve biomechanics, and coordinated ZEBRA-VALVE on cardiac valve morphogenesis, all using advanced in vivo imaging in zebrafish and mouse models.
Participated in ARCH (age-related changes in hematopoiesis, leukemia, cell signalling) and GO-DS21 (coordinated, studying comorbidities in Down Syndrome including blood disorders).
Participated in IPAD-MD and INFRAFRONTIER2020 for mouse disease model archiving and phenotyping, and in iNEXT-Discovery for structural biology infrastructure access.
Participated in EarlyCause (early-life stress linked to psycho-cardio-metabolic disease) and coordinated GO-DS21 (Down Syndrome comorbidities), both starting in 2020.
Participated in PDZnet (PDZ-mediated cell signalling) and Phd (PI3K biology in health and disease).
In the early H2020 period (2015–2018), CERBM focused heavily on fundamental molecular biology: transcriptional regulation, chromosome topology, cellular reprogramming in C. elegans, and cardiac development imaging using zebrafish and mouse models. From 2019 onward, a clear shift emerged toward translational and disease-focused research — hematopoiesis and leukemia (ARCH), multi-morbidity mechanisms linking stress to cardiovascular and metabolic disease (EarlyCause), and Down Syndrome comorbidities (GO-DS21). They also expanded into research data infrastructure through EOSC-Life, signalling a growing role in open science and digital biology platforms.
CERBM is pivoting from pure fundamental biology toward disease-oriented translational research, particularly in hematological and multi-morbidity conditions, while maintaining its imaging and animal model infrastructure — making them increasingly relevant for health-focused consortia.
CERBM operates primarily as a specialist partner (15 of 21 projects), contributing specific expertise in imaging, animal models, or molecular biology to larger consortia. When they coordinate (6 projects), these tend to be smaller ERC or MSCA grants centred on their core research strengths rather than large multi-partner initiatives. With 195 unique consortium partners across 25 countries, they function as a well-connected hub in the European life sciences network — open to diverse collaborations rather than locked into a narrow circle.
Extensive European network spanning 195 unique partners across 25 countries, reflecting deep integration into pan-European life sciences research. As part of the IGBMC ecosystem in Strasbourg, they are naturally well-connected to both French and German research institutions.
CERBM combines world-class fundamental biology (gene regulation, chromatin, transcription) with strong in vivo imaging capabilities and established animal model facilities — a combination that is rare in a single centre. Their position at IGBMC in Strasbourg, straddling the Franco-German border, gives them natural access to two of Europe's strongest research ecosystems. For consortium builders, they offer a reliable partner who can deliver both mechanistic molecular insights and advanced phenotyping/imaging services within a single collaboration.
