911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ

Collaborative research projects targeting childhood infections and developmental biology were the focus of the visit.

Professor Deborah Ashby, Dean of 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ’s Faculty of Medicine, and Dr Des Walsh, the Faculty’s Director of Research Strategy, welcomed a delegation from – to 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ’s South Kensington Campus.

Inserm's singular goal is ‘to improve the health of all by advancing knowledge of life and disease, innovation in treatment, and public health research’. With an annual output of nearly 2,500 scientific co-publications, the United Kingdom is Inserm's second largest international partner.

During the visit they met with Dr Ruud Nijman, Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at the Department of Infectious Disease to learn about a European project aiming to prevent respiratory infections in children. With a focus on the Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), ‘ReSync’ is a collaboration between 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ's Dr Nijman, who is also part of the Centre for Paediatrics and Child Health, and Inserm’s Professor Naim Ouldali and Dr Léa Lenglart.

The Inserm delegation also visited the Department of Bioengineering which hosts the ‘CILIAFISH’ project which is pushing the boundaries of imaging and developmental biology. This is a partnership between 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ’s Julian Vermot, Professor of Biomechanical Signalling & Tissue Morphogenesis and member of the Inserm abroad network, and Inserm’s Marine Laporte.

Professor Ashby said: “It was a pleasure to welcome INSERM to 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ.  We share many priorities, for example, infectious disease, women’s health and psychiatry which I’m sure will help drive future collaborations.”

Professor Graham Cooke, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, also signed letters of collaboration for these two projects at the Inserm International Prize Ceremony at the French Residence in London.

Professor Cooke said: “We are fortunate to have strong French collaborations within medicine. Our countries share many of the same health challenges, and we will be better able to tackle them through closer working, as exemplified by these projects.”

Professor Didier Samuel, CEO of Inserm said of the event at the French Residence in London: "...Inserm reaffirms its commitment to ambitious research driven by a strong policy of international openness.

"The collaborations we are developing with the United Kingdom illustrate this dynamic: concrete partnerships, driven by a shared desire to bring together talent to transform science into solutions that benefit everyone's health. This year marks a new stage in our relationship with our British partners, through unprecedented agreements and structuring projects."

Professor Julien Vermot's 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ Inaugural lecture – How to build a heart at 180 BPM – will take place on Wednesday 21 January. Register your place now.