INSTITUT PASTEUR DE TUNIS

Their core work

Institut Pasteur de Tunis is a North African biomedical research centre specializing in infectious disease diagnostics, particularly leishmaniasis and bovine tuberculosis. They develop non-invasive diagnostic tools using volatile organic compounds, biomarkers, and electronic nose technologies. The institute also builds bioinformatics and omics data analysis capacity for pathogen-host interaction research, serving as a bridge between European research networks and the Mediterranean/African disease landscape.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015-2018), IPT focused on tropical disease bench research, biopesticide development, and community-based participatory research — a broad portfolio spanning agriculture, social innovation, and basic disease biology. From 2018 onward, the institute concentrated sharply on diagnostics using biomarkers and bioinformatics, with repeated emphasis on volatile-based non-invasive testing and omics data analysis. The shift signals a maturation from general infectious disease research toward a clear diagnostic technology niche, particularly around VOC-based tools.

IPT is consolidating around non-invasive diagnostic technologies (electronic nose, VOC biomarkers) and computational biology, making them an increasingly focused partner for diagnostic tool development in infectious diseases.

How they like to work

IPT predominantly joins consortia as a participant or partner (10 of 11 projects), having coordinated only once (PHINDaccess). With 146 unique partners across 36 countries, they operate as a well-connected specialist contributor rather than a consortium leader. Their broad network suggests they are sought after for their specific disease expertise and geographic positioning in North Africa, making them a valuable addition for projects needing Mediterranean/African field sites and pathogen knowledge.

IPT has built an extensive network of 146 partners across 36 countries, remarkably broad for a Tunisian institute with 11 projects. This reach reflects strong demand for their infectious disease expertise and their strategic position as a gateway to North African research contexts.

What sets them apart

IPT is one of very few North African research centres deeply embedded in European H2020 consortia on infectious disease diagnostics. Their combination of field-level access to tropical and zoonotic diseases (leishmaniasis, bovine TB) with modern diagnostic technologies (VOC analysis, electronic nose, omics) makes them a rare bridge between European lab science and real-world disease burden in the Mediterranean and African context. For any consortium needing non-European field validation of diagnostic tools, IPT is an obvious choice.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PHINDaccess
  IPT's only coordinated project (EUR 723K), focused on building bioinformatics capacity for pathogen-host research — signals their ambition to lead in computational infectious disease biology.
• LeiSHield-MATI
  Largest single funding (EUR 756K), a multi-disciplinary effort combining molecular biology, social science, and diagnostics for leishmaniasis — their flagship disease.
• CANLEISH
  Most recent project (2021-2025), directly continues their VOC diagnostics line into canine leishmaniasis — shows sustained commitment to this diagnostic approach.