Objectives

Financing obtained by the Pays de la Loire region provides researchers with the means to develop joint tools and generate scientific knowledge. At the same time, the project-dedicated support team manages the consortium, organizes get-togethers with specialists (seminars and annual science days) and disseminates and promotes the knowledge acquired to as many people as possible (scientific and non-scientific).

The objectives are summarized in the diagram below and detailed in the following paragraphs:

Bring about scientific progress

The scientists and associated doctoral students study the mechanisms which trigger chronic inflammatory diseases and cause their development.

This project intends to:

 

  • Highlight the key role of organ barrier dysfunctions in chronic pathologies.
  • Identify new molecular and imaging biomarkers linked to these dysfunctions
  • Determine the role of organ microbiota and its extracellular vesicles in the onset of chronic diseases.
  • Develop new microbiota and organ barrier targeting tools.

 

The work undertaken should lead to the (re)definition of a set of connected barriers and microbiota. As such, the MiBioGate consortium will be an opportunity for gaining international exposure by helping open up organ research.

Developing Joint Tools and Structuring Research

Pooling the expertise of several partners together has led to the development of 3 tools:

 

  • MiBiOmics: an application which enables biologists to analyse various datasets (genomic, transcriptomic, physiological, etc.) and to then incorporate up to 3 datasets. (Partner UMR6004 LS2N)
  • Imaging tool : acquisition of a Light-CT-Scanner equipped with FF-OCT technology (Full Field – Optical Cohrence Tomography). It enables cell activity in fresh tissue to be directly observed. This medical imaging technique uses a light wave to capture three-dimensional images of biological tissue, with a micrometer (1 µm) range resolution. (Main Partner 1 UMR1235)
  • Isolating and characterizing extracellular vesicles from faecal microbiota (Lead Patner 5 UMR1063)

 

This project clearly helps structure regional and interregional research focused on studying chronic pathologies, their microbiota and continued well-being.

This consortium is also at the interface of the following regional areas of specialization: agri-food, health and well-being.

Promoting the knowledge acquired

The support team disseminates the scientific knowledge acquired to:

 

  • the scientific community by organizing quarterly scientific seminars and an annual congress
  • industrial groups at trade shows and during individual get-togethers
  • the general public during scientific popularization events (science festival, researcher’s night, the Utopiales, laboratory visits, etc.)

 

We work hand-in-hand with the project supervisory body communication and scientific dissemination teams.

 

This consortium also intends to consolidate and strengthen current academic curriculums for the University of Nantes’ Master’s Degree programmes:

 

  • by boosting the appeal of these courses taught by consortium members
  • by ultimately increasing student recruitment

Promoting results

Each project partner reinforces their expertise in the pathophysiology of these chronic diseases, the microbiota involved, their targeting as well as in bioinformatics data analysis. The structure implemented for this project enables its players to publish, to organize themselves around a proactive watch and to be supported to gain new public and private financing.

The support team also strives to ensure the consortium is recognized by industrial, academic and clinical partners in order to:

 

  • Develop similar study approaches for other chronic pathologies
  • Test the bio-functionalities of molecules of interest (agri-food products, biomarine resources, drugs, alicaments, etc.)
  • Develop new technological approaches to barrier study and targeting (imaging, vectorization, etc.)

 

To promote the project and its partners as best possible, we work with the project supervisory body and regional competitiveness cluster research promotion teams (Atlanpôle Biothérapie, Valorial Cap Aliment).