Paris-based genetic disease research institute specializing in rare disorders, gene therapies, molecular diagnostics, and translational medicine at Necker Hospital.
Imagine Institute is a Paris-based research foundation dedicated to understanding and treating genetic diseases, housed at the Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital. They combine genomics, functional genetics, and molecular diagnostics to study rare and inherited disorders — from interferonopathies and ciliopathies to Duchenne muscular dystrophy and coeliac disease. Their work spans basic disease mechanisms through to drug discovery and gene therapy development, with a strong emphasis on translating genetic findings into diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets.
Core focus across EJP RD (European rare disease programme), E-T1IFNs (type I interferonopathies), MitoFeron (mitochondrial autoinflammation), and ALS-Networks (neurodegenerative genetics).
NEUcrest focuses on genomic and functional genomics with diagnostic tools; SingCelCD applies single-cell genomics to coeliac disease; MitoFeron targets diagnostic applications.
BIND explores gene therapies for dystrophinopathies, NEUcrest includes drug discovery, and HDM-FUN develops host-directed medicine for fungal infections.
GOAL-Robots (autonomous learning), ALS-Networks (neurodegenerative disorders), BIND (brain involvement in dystrophinopathies), and NEUROTWIN (neuroscience capacity building).
HDM-FUN (their largest funded project at EUR 633K) investigates host-directed medicine against invasive fungal infections — a notable expansion beyond genetic disease.
SCilS studies ciliary signalling in development and disease using organoids and multi-omics approaches.
In their early H2020 period (2016–2018), Imagine focused on fundamental genetics — neuroscience, zebrafish models, genomic engineering, and the biology of type I interferonopathies and innate immunity. From 2019 onward, the institute shifted toward translational and therapeutic applications: gene therapies for muscular dystrophy, host-directed antifungal medicine, drug discovery, and deep phenotyping. The recent portfolio also shows diversification into ciliopathies, fungal immunology, and capacity-building partnerships, reflecting a broadening from pure genetic research toward clinical translation.
Imagine is moving from characterizing genetic disease mechanisms toward developing therapies and diagnostics, making them increasingly relevant for pharma and biotech partnerships.
Imagine primarily operates as a contributing partner rather than a consortium leader, coordinating only 2 of 11 projects (both smaller grants under EUR 200K). They engage in large, multi-partner consortia — 201 unique partners across 37 countries suggests they are well-connected hubs within European rare disease and genetics networks. Their participation spans diverse funding schemes (ERC, MSCA, RIA, EJP), indicating flexibility in adapting to different consortium structures and roles.
Imagine has collaborated with 201 unique partners across 37 countries, placing them at the centre of a broad European research network in genetics and rare diseases. Their geographic reach extends well beyond Western Europe, as evidenced by the NEUROTWIN twinning project with Romania.
Imagine sits at the intersection of a world-class children's hospital (Necker-Enfants Malades) and a dedicated genetic disease research institute — a combination that gives them direct access to patient cohorts, clinical data, and bedside-to-bench feedback loops. Their breadth across rare diseases, from interferonopathies to ciliopathies to muscular dystrophy, means they can contribute genetic expertise to almost any disease-focused consortium. For partners seeking a French genetics powerhouse with clinical grounding and pan-European connections, Imagine is a strong fit.
