Evaluation report

This report is the result of the evaluation by the experts committee, the composition of which is specified below.

The assessments contained herein are the expression of an independent and collegial deliberation of the committee.

Unit name:

Grenoble Institute of Neurosciences The GIN will start the 2016-2020 project with a new direction and with 11 different teams studying Neuroscience along 3 different complementary and interacting approaches: cellular and molecular Neurosciences, Neuroimaging, systems and clinical Neurosciences. With the help of innovative technologies such as state of the art imaging techniques, these teams address various biological questions centered on: the cell biology of the neuroncytoskeleton, intracellular trafficking, cell polarity-in normal and pathological conditions; communication and plasticity at neuronal synapses and neuromuscular junctions; normal and pathological brain development, neuroimaging and the functions of physiological and pathological neural networks. Clinical concerns are related to diseases resulting from neural injuries (neurodegenerative diseases and stroke), epilepsies, mental diseases and cognition, brain tumors and myopathies. The interface between basic and clinical teams and through multidisciplinary approaches such as nano-technologies, physics, chemistry and informatics will be crucial to develop future therapeutic strategies.

Management team

Mr Claude FEUERSTEIN chaired the GIN since its creation in 2007 until September 2013. In early 2013, Inserm and UJF launched an International call to recruit a new director for the GIN. Mr Frédéric SAUDOU, Inserm research director (DR1) and director of the "Signaling, Neurobiology and Cancer" INSERM U1005, CNRS UMR3306 unit at the Institut Curie was selected and then nominated as interim director of the GIN on September 23, 2013 to prepare the 2016-2020 project of the GIN.

To assist the director in managerial task and administrative duties, a deputy director was nominated in the Spring 2014 and took function in September 2014. She will assist the director in building and establishing partnerships, managing support scientific and technical resources, and implementing the science policy elaborated by the management committee. 2  Overall assessment of the unit

HCERES

Global assessment of the unit

The GIN and its different teams represent group of first class research teams in Neuroscience. To avoid installation of routine, it was deemed necessary to adapt and refocus the GIN on modern aspects. Although still ongoing, this is basically accomplished with a modern organizational matrix structure, by the introduction of new thematics introduced by the new director and associated teams, and by restructuring of previous GIN teams. Research carried out by the different teams has been rated from outstanding to good, with an average of very good to excellent. With appropriate focus on their strengths, which are quite impressive, all teams are in a position and very determined to increase their impact on the international scene, which should occur progressively during the coming 5 years.

Strengths and opportunities in relation to the context

Since 2007, the GIN has maintained international reputation in some fields such as deep brain stimulation, the molecular biology of microtubules, vesicular trafficking in neurons and others. Like in many other similar instances, a time comes when a new impetus must be given to introduce new thematics, to modify and redirect existing ones. This is still under way but thus far reforms have been extremely successful in bringing together 11 teams (4 new teams since 2010, including two in 2014) with exceptional expertise in their respective fields. The novel structure, with its matrix organisation in teams and platforms, to which all present GIN members have worked and adhere, provides team leaders and their collaborators with a superb opportunity to make top-notch contributions in neuroscience. By focusing on what they do best and interacting in a positive and intelligent manner, researchers at the GIN are clearly in a position to publish at a high level during the next 5 years and thereby make an international impact.

Weaknesses and threats related to the context

Although the general level is very good, the scientific output of some teams over the last few years has not been excellent. The reasons for this are diverse but include some lack of horizontal communications among team leaders and some deficiency in interactions and of research programs. Some difficulties have been associated with the change of leadership and accompanying administrative modifications. This is now basically over thanks to a considerable effort from the director and all team leaders who participate in the new project 2015-2020.

Recommendations

A lot of effort has been successfully invested in the new structure and should be pursued actively. The teams working at the GIN should be encouraged to take advantage of the multidisciplinarity and the efficient opportunities provided by their environment, and to benefit from the impetus associated with the change in leadership and restructuring. A proper focus on their many strengths, such as the cellular and molecular biology of the neuronal cytoskeleton, vesicle trafficking in neurons, dynamic imaging from the cell to the organism, with views on the pathophysiology of diseases such as epilepsy, myopathies, neurodegenerative and Huntington disease and on translational research leading to novel therapeutic vistas, is advised to avoid dispersion of energy and means. Given the large workforce, it should be possible to combine in a balanced manner research projects along classical lines and some other projects with more original but also more risky aspects. Focusing on highly competitive and original themes should allow GIN researchers to publish their work in high visibility journals and translate their research in patents and applications.

  Mr Claude FEUERSTEIN (2007/09/30 -2013/09/30) Mr Frédéric SAUDOU (2013/09/30 -Present) -CARROLL, University of Montpellier Mr Christian POÜS, University Paris-Sud, Chatenay-Malabry Mr Alfons SCHNITZLER, University Düsseldorf, Germany Mr John WADDINGTON, Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland Scientific delegate representing the HCERES: Mr Jean-Marie ZAJAC Representatives of the unit's supervising institutions and bodies: Ms Christelle BRETON (representative of the Doctoral school N°218) Mr Éric DEFRANCQ, Université Joseph Fourier Mr Jérôme GARIN, CEA Ms Anne GUÉRIN-DUGUE (representative of the Doctoral school N°216) Ms Jacqueline HUBERT, CHU Grenoble Ms Anne ROCHAT, INSERM

1 

 1 Introduction History and geographical location of the unitResearch Centre in January 2007. It was a strategic project jointly initiated by Grenoble 1 Joseph Fourier University (UJF) and the national research agencies dedicated to Life and Health Sciences, such as Inserm, CEA and, more recently, CNRS. Directed by Mr Claude FEUERSTEIN, it gathered the local forces in Neurosciences within a common and unique location organized around shared facilities. The common building devoted to experimental research covers a 6000 m² overall area. It was completed and inaugurated in November 2007. Built by UJF on the University Hospital Centre (CHU) campus, this building is located at the immediate proximity of the Hospital Departments of Neurology, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Neurosurgery, Psychiatry and Clinical Investigation Centre (CIC). This location is incentive for strong interactions between clinical and experimental research. Moreover, the presence in Grenoble of many high levels Research Centers from various institutions (University, Inserm, CNRS, CEA) is a unique opportunity for the development of trans-disciplinary projects with physicists, mathematicians, engineers, structural biologists, physicians, psychologists, etc…).

Unit workforce Number as at 30/06/2014 Number as at 01/01/2016

	Unit workforce
	N1: Permanent professors and similar positions	32	34
	N2: Permanent researchers from Institutions and similar positions	33	38
	N3: Other permanent staff (without research duties)	34	25
	N4: Other professors (Emeritus Professor, on-contract Professor, etc.)
	N5: Other researchers (Emeritus Research Director, Postdoctoral students, visitors, etc.)	9	14
	N6: Other contractual staff (without research duties)	16	4
	TOTAL N1 to N6	124	115
	Unit workforce	Number as at 30/06/2014	Number as at 01/01/2016
	Doctoral students	94
	Theses defended	46
	Postdoctoral students having spent at least 12 months in the unit	6
	Number of Research Supervisor Qualifications (HDR) taken	42
	Qualified research supervisors (with an HDR) or similar positions	54	58
	nomenclature
	SVE_LS5
	SVE1_LS7


T Baumberger

C Caroli

D Martina

O Ronsin

Magic Angles in Fracture Surface Morphologies of Gelatin Hydrogels

Keywords: numbers: 62, 20, Mk, 83, 80, Kn

The full 2D analysis of roughness profiles of fracture surfaces resulting from quasi-static crack propagation in gelatin gels reveals an original behavior characterized by (i) strong anisotropy with maximum roughness at V -independent symmetry-preserving angles (ii) For crack velocities V below a critical value, a cross-hatched regime due to straight macrosteps drifting at the same magic angles (iii) A marked increase with V of average roughness amplitude. This, together with previous results on other highly compliant, tough, polymeric networks, leads us to propose the existence of a new class of morphologies, controlled primarily by elastic non-linearities.

Over the past two decades, considerable effort has been devoted to characterizing and understanding the statistical properties of the roughness of fracture surfaces in linear elastic disordered materials. Investigation of a wide variety of systems, ranging from brittle silica glass to ductile metallic alloys, has revealed the ubiquity of wide roughness spectra exhibiting self-affine characteristics on sizeable wavelength ranges. On the basis of analysis of height-height correlation functions in a single direction, E. Bouchaud et al. [1] first conjectured a fully universal behavior summed up into a single Hurst exponent. The discrepancies between the predictions of various subsequent theoretical models have pointed toward the importance of also investigating possible anisotropies of the scaling properties [START_REF] Ponson | Crack propagation in disordered materials[END_REF]. Work along this line indeed reveals different scaling exponents along the crack propagation direction and the (orthogonal) crack front one. From this, Ponson et al. [START_REF] Ponson | [END_REF] conclude that the self-affinity of the roughness is described by a Family-Vicsek scaling, hence by a set of two exponents. Within their new analysis, full universality is no longer the case since they evidence the existence of at least two classes of materials.

However, on the basis of their theoretical work, Bouchbinder et al. [4] have recently raised several new issues. In particular, they point to the necessity of a full 2D analysis of the correlations and find, when reexamining some experimental data, that a host of up to now unidentified exponents appear. They insist on the need to focus on the effects of departures from linear elasticity in the fracture process.

In this spirit we report here on the nature of surface morphologies resulting from the fracture of gelatin, a highly compliant thermally reversible hydrogel, in the strongly subsonic regime. We show that these surfaces present very striking anisotropic features. Namely, the rms roughness R(θ), measured along a direction at angle θ from the propagation one Ox, exhibits two symmetrypreserving maxima for θ = ±θ m . For gels with a fixed gelatin concentration, this "magic angle" θ m is constant over more than one decade of both crack velocity V and solvent viscosity η. Moreover, below a critical, η-dependent, velocity V c a new dynamical regime develops, characterized by a cross-hatched (CH) morphology due to straight "macroscopic" steps of heights a few 100 µm, emerging from the above-described coexistent micrometric roughness. These steps are oriented at the same magic angles ±θ m as those revealed by the microroughness.

Very similar CH patterns have been observed previously on a covalently cross-linked hydrogel [5,6] and on various elastomers, swollen or not [7]. This, together with our results, leads us to propose the existence of a new class of morphologies, characteristic of highly compliant random polymer networks in which fracture implies large crack tip opening displacements (CTOD) and strong elastic non-linearities at work in the near-tip region.

Experimental -Our fracture surfaces result from mode-I cracks propagating along the mid-plane of long, thin gelatin slabs (Fig. 1.a.), as described in detail in reference [8]. A displacement ∆ of the rigid grips is imposed along Oy to the notched plate. After an initial transient, the crack reaches a steady regime at a velocity V which increases with the "energy release rate" G imposed by the opening ∆. We found that, in this slow, subsonic regime (V < 30 mm/s), G = G 0 + ΓηV with G 0 ≃ 2.5 J.m -2 , Γ ≃ 10 6 , and were able to assign this strong V -dependence to the fact that, in such a reversible gel, fracture occurs via scissionless chain pull-out, the high dissipation being due to viscous drag [8,9]. The results reported here were obtained on gels with a 5 wt.% content of gelatin in the solvent (pure water except when otherwise specified). The gel low-strain shear modulus µ = 3.5 kPa (transverse sound speed ∼ 1.9 m/s), is due to the entropic elasticity of the ran- dom polymer network, of average mesh size ξ ∼ 10 nm. Note that, owing to this huge compliance, even very slow cracks (V ∼ 100 µm/s) demand large openings ∆ (Table I), typically 3 mm, comparable with the slab thickness e. Post-mortem replicas of crack surfaces, obtained by UV curing of a thin layer of glue, are scanned with the help of a mechanical profilometer (stylus tip radius 2 µm, out of plane resolution 0.1 nm). Our maps h(x, z) of heights above mean plane correspond to 3 × 3 mm 2 scans. Each one consists of a series of 600 lines parallel to the front direction Oz, each line containing 1500 data points.

The microrough morphology -For V 300 µm/s, the fracture surfaces are flat on the macroscale, yet clearly not mirror-like. As expected with such a material, elastic modulus as well as toughness fluctuations due to the randomness of the network result in in-and out-of-plane excursions of the crack front line, the profile roughness being the imprint of the latter ones. A typical map is shown in figure 1

(∆z) = [h(z + ∆z, x) -h(z, x)] 1/2 z,x
and its counterpart ∆h x (∆x) along the propagation direction (Ox). As indicated by figure 1.a. the microroughness spectrum is anisotropic and of the broad band type. However, at variance with the findings of [START_REF] Ponson | [END_REF], a simple power law fit (see dashed lines) is, here, clearly unconvincing. The discrepancy leads us, following Bouchbinder et al. [11], to try and exploit more extensively the full 2D information. Indeed, naked-eye inspection under grazing incidence, as well as the aspect of height maps (Fig. 1.b.), strongly suggest the presence of preferred oblique direc-tions. This suspicion we have confirmed by computing the angle-dependent squared roughness R 2 (θ), obtained by integrating the power spectrum | h(q)| 2 over an angular sector dθ = 4 • about angle θ + π/2 (in q-space) and in the wavelength window 2 µm-1 mm. We find in all cases that R 2 (θ) exhibits two marked symmetric peaks at θ = ±θ m (see figure 1.c. for which θ m = 22 • ). Moreover (Table I), θ m does not show any significant variation over the whole V -range (V max /V min ∼ 20). In addition, a 10-fold increase of solvent viscosity η, obtained by using a 40/60 water/glycerol mixture, does not either affect its value.

Finally the full 2D-averaged rms roughness R exhibits a clear quasi-linear V -dependence, a 20-fold V increase resulting in a 2-fold growth of R (Table I).

The crosshatched (CH) morphology -When, starting from the microrough regime, we perform a step-bystep decrease of ∆, thus slowing down crack propagation. Below a critical velocity V c = 350±20 µm/s we observe on the fracture surfaces the emergence, at apparently random locations across the slab width, of oblique straight line defects (Fig. 2.a.). Upon further V decrease, these lines proliferate into a scale-like pattern, akin to the CH morphologies found by Tanaka et al. [5] on a covalently cross-linked gel and by Gent et al. [7] on elastomers. Moreover, optical imaging of the moving crack tip (Fig. 2.b.) permits to check that the associated drifting front defects have precisely the topology (Fig. 2.c.) identified in [5] and [7]. The fold CC'DD' ultimately closes as the front proceeds, leaving two complementary steps on the crack faces.

Step nucleation profiles (see Fig. 2.d.) show that these macrodefects emerge via self-amplification of the microroughness, with which they coexist. Their height satu- rates, after a traveling distance of several millimeters, to values ∼ a few 100 µm. No change of their drift angle is discernable as they grow, so that they propagate at the magic angle θ m of the microroughness. We find it to remain V -independent over the full V < V c explored range. Discussion -The above phenomenology presents several striking discrepancies with the known morphologies, pertaining to metallic alloys, silica glasses, quasicrystals, mortar, wood and sandstone [START_REF] Ponson | Crack propagation in disordered materials[END_REF]. Namely, none of these materials has been reported to exhibit (i) preferential anisotropy directions (ii) a CH regime (iii) a noticeable increase of R with V in the quasistatic regime. On the other hand, these three a priori puzzling features are not restricted to gelatin gels. Indeed, as already mentioned, the CH regime has been documented for a chemical hydrogel and for elastomers. Moreover, using figure 5 of reference [6], one easily checks that, in their chemical gel as well, the CH drift angle is constant (θ m ≃ 43 • ) over a 40-fold increase of V up to a critical V c where the CH regime disappears.

The question then arises of which material features may be responsible for this new class of behavior. Two possible candidates are (a) poroelasticity, at work in hy- drogels, and (b) the strong elastic non-linearities of these highly compliant solids.

(a) Poroelasticity -We have measured V c for increasing viscosity η of the (water-glycerol) solvent. We find (Fig. 3) that V c = D coll /d where the collective diffusion coefficient D coll ∼ µξ 2 /η, determined from dynamic light scattering, characterizes the solvent/network dissipative dynamics [12]. The constant length thus defined, d ≃ 70 nm, compares with the size (∼ 100 nm) of the process zone [9].

On the other hand we found that the magic CH angle in gelatin is η-independent. In the same line, Gent et al. [7] find θ m to have the same value for an dry elastomer and for the same network swollen (ratio 2.6) with oil. This suggests that, while poroelasticity is irrelevant to the existence and value of magic angles, the dissipation associated with it could govern the nucleation of the "soliton-like" front defects responsible for macrostep generation.

(b) Elastic non-linearities -The behavior described above is obtained for slow, strongly subsonic cracks with large openings, since the very high compliance of gels and the large toughness of elastomers result in large remote strain levels even at the Griffith threshold. In this situation, the various theoretical models of self-affine roughness [START_REF] Ponson | Crack propagation in disordered materials[END_REF] are most probably inadequate, due to their common assumption of elastic linearity. We think that, here, non-linearities come into play through two effects. On the one hand a large ∆/H ratio certainly modifies the nonsingular parts of the near-tip stress field (the so-called Tand A-stresses) known to control the response of the front to modulus and toughness fluctuations. On the other hand, in the tip region itself, the large non-linearities of the mechanical response laws, typical of polymer networks [13], certainly become crucial. Indeed, in the materials under consideration, critical decohesion stresses σ c are much larger than low strain moduli (for our gelatin gels, σ c /µ ∼ 100 [8]). This gives rise to elastic crack blunting [14] -a still open issue -as well as to strong anisotropy effects.

In our opinion a manifestation of the relevance of non-linearities lies in the behavior of the average roughness R. Our cracks are quasi-static, so that front wave propagation [15] is irrelevant here, as confirmed by the constancy of θ m . Hence the growth of R with V should be understood as a dependence, not on propagation velocity proper, but on crack opening ∆, via the V -dependence of the fracture energy G.

In conclusion we propose that the phenomenology brought to light and analyzed here is characteristic, beyond the case of gelatin gels, of a new class of morphologies of fracture surfaces, produced by quasi-static crack propagation in soft elastic materials tough enough to rupture at high strain levels. Putting this still somewhat conjectural statement on a completely firm basis will of course require further detailed investigations of the microroughness, e.g. on elastomers.

FIG. 1 :

 1 FIG. 1: Roughness characteristics for a 5 wt% gelatin/water gel for crack velocity V = 13.5 mm/s. (a) Plot of the height-height correlation functions ∆hx(∆x) and ∆hz(∆z) (see text). Insert : Schematic experimental geometry. Sample dimensions are : length L = 300 mm, height H = 30 mm, thickness e = 10 mm. (b) 3 × 3 mm 2 map of heights h(x, z). The gray scale ranges over 27 µm. The oblique lines correspond to peak positions in fig. 1.c. (c) Anisotropic squared roughness R 2 vs. angle θ measured from crack propagation direction. The dark line is the best fit with a sum of two gaussians with an offset baseline.

  .b. For this crack velocity V = 13.5 mm/s, we find that the global rms roughness R = 4.1 µm [10]. Following Ponson et al. [3], we first characterize height correlations along the front (Oz) i.e. we compute : ∆h z

FIG. 2 :

 2 FIG. 2: Morphology in the cross-hatched regime. (a) optical imaging of a typical CH pattern. The crack propagates upward, its velocity being V Vc at bottom of image. (b) The moving crack tip region as imaged looking down in the Oxz plane at 45 • from the Ox axis (insert of Fig. 1.a.). The white dashed line A'AB'B indicates the frontline. The drifting front defect AB' leaves two complementary macrosteps on the crack faces. (c) Topological sketch of the front defect. The arrow indicates the direction of observation corresponding to figure 1.b. (adapted from ref.[5]). (d) 3D profile (400×400 µm 2 , 15 µm peak to peak) illustrating the emergence of a macrostep out of the microroughness (V Vc).

FIG. 3 :

 3 FIG. 3: Lower limit Vc oft the microrough regime versus collective diffusion coefficient D coll for 5 wt.% gelatin gels in solvents with various glycerol content. The line is a best linear fit.

TABLE I :

 I

	tip Velocity (mm.s -1 )	1.16	5.9	13.5	23.3
	crack opening (mm)	5	7	9	11
	rms roughness (µm)	2.5	3.1	4.1	5.3
	angle θm ( • )	18	17	17	22

We are grateful to K. Sekimoto for stimulating interactions along the course of this work. We also thank M. Adda-Bedia, A. Argon, D. Bonamy, H. Brown, V. Lazarus for helpful discussions.


 Introduction History and geographical location of the Unit

This Inserm/University of Bordeaux unit evolves since nearly 40 years in the scientific community of Bordeaux. Inserm has provided on-going support to the unit through successive long-term period grants from 1976 to 1996 (Inserm U 8) and then from 1996 to 2006 (Inserm U 441), dealing with molecular and cellular mechanisms of atherosclerosis. In 2006, the current director, Mr Thierry COUFFINHAL, engaged a reflection for the development of a new project aiming at deciphering the mechanisms of vascular formation and adaptation to ischemic conditions. On January 1 st 2007, the Inserm unit "Cardiovascular adaptation to ischemia" was created with two teams: team 1 "Neovessel maturation" and team 2 "Vessel repair and cardioprotection". The unit was then affiliated to both Inserm and University of Bordeaux under the heading U 828. It was part of the "Institut Fédératif de Recherche" IFR 4-FR21 "Heart-Lungs-Vessels-Thrombosis". On January 2011, the current unit (U 1034) was created with one team "Cardiovascular adaptation to ischemia" led by Mr Thierry COUFFINHAL. The unit is part of the "Fédération de Recherche TransBioMed" from the health and Life Science Department -University of Bordeaux.

The unit works in an Inserm building erected in 1976 on the South part of the Bordeaux Medical School (University of Bordeaux), on the area belonging to the Haut-Lévêque University Hospital and the Cardiology Hospital. The total surface of the building is about 1 624 m². This surface includes the animal facility and the laundry (654 m²). As it was built 40 years ago with materials of average resistance, the building has just benefited from a rehabilitation process (June 2012-July 2013).

Management team:

From 2011 to 2015, the unit was organised into four sub-themes: I) new vessel maturation, II) vascular repair, III) platelet/endothelial cell interactions and IV) hemodynamic adaptation to cardiopulmonary failure. For the 2016 to 2020 timeframe, the unit will be organized into four new and innovative sub-themes: I) Hedgehog and vessel disease, II) Wnt/Frizzled in vessel organization and function, III) Endothelial cells in thrombosis and IV) Improving hemodynamics in the ischemic heart. Mr Thierry COUFFINHAL will head the new unit. 2  Overall assessment of the Unit

HCERES nomenclature

SVE1_L4

Unit workforce

Global assessment of the unit

The main overall objective of the unit was a better understanding of the mechanisms supporting the development of the blood clot as well as the formation and the maintenance of functional vessels in the ischemic milieu. The secondary objective was to improve or develop new therapeutic strategies to ameliorate tissue perfusion in ischemic pathologies. During the last 5 years, the unit has pursued major effort towards the development of both experimental and technical approaches. Progresses made in the relevant field are considerable and highlighted by publications in high-ranked journal. For the five next years, the aim of the project is to better define the roles of the endothelium and some of the endothelial-related pathways such as hedgehog and/or Wnt/frizzled in vessel organization and function. The objective is also to improve the knowledge of the cross talk between endothelium and tissue homeostasis by deciphering the impact of the non-endothelial compartment (i.e nerves, muscles) on the vascular part as well as to analyze the role of endothelial cells on non-endothelial part (i.e blood cells/thrombosis). The background, as well as the theoretical and practical knowledge of unit members perfectly match with the whole objective of the project.

Strengths and opportunities in relation to the context

There is a comprehensive ad equation between the organization and the scientific objectives of the unit. Strategic decisions are taken on a higlighly collegial basis. The accessibility of the common resources as well as the diffusion of scientific policies and research programs are excellent. The quality of student guidance, supervision and follow-up is of great magnitude. The unit's members show major participation in coordinating master's courses and in the different programs of the doctoral school. unit members expertizes and know-how strongly suggest that they will reach their scientific objectives. Each project requires interdisciplinary approach, may have some clinical perspectives and benefits from casual link between basic and applied researchers.

Weaknesses and threats related to the context

There is a clear unbalance between the number of team members and their involvement in full-time research. Hence, the relevant clinical activities of a significant number of clinicians/pharmacists do not complement the general endothelial cells-driven hypothesis developed in the unit. International reputation and funding do not correspond to the quality and the strong proficiency of team members.

Recommendations

Given their expertizes in their respective fields of research, unit members are encouraged to develop their international academic reputation and appeal.

A specific effort should be done to increase the number of full-time researchers as well as international postdoctoral fellows in the different themes.

Unit workforce Number as at 30/06/2014 Number as at 01/01/2016

	N1: Permanent professors and similar positions	18	17
	N2: Permanent researchers from Institutions and similar positions	3	3
	N3: Other permanent staff (without research duties)
	N4: Other professors (Emeritus Professor, on-contract Professor, etc.)	2	1
	N5: Other researchers (Emeritus Research Director, Postdoctoral students, visitors, etc.)	2	2
	N6: Other contractual staff (without research duties)	2
	TOTAL N1 to

N6 27 Unit workforce Number as at 30/06/2014 Number as at 01/01/2016

	Doctoral students	7
	Theses defended	11
	Postdoctoral students having spent at least 12 months in the Unit	2
	Number of Research Supervisor Qualifications (HDR) taken	2
	Qualified research supervisors (with an HDR) or similar positions	13	15


Evaluation report

This report is the result of the evaluation by the experts committee, the composition of which is specified below.

The assessments contained herein are the expression of an independent and collegial deliberation of the committee. The IBS was installed in 1992 close to the european large scale facilities, the synchrotron X-ray facility (ESRF) and the neutron source (ILL). It is a mixed research unit supported by three agencies: CEA, CNRS and UJF. The new IBS project will also include the teams from the UVHCI (Unit of Virus Host Cell Interactions) which was created in 2007 as an international mixed unit (implicating the CNRS, the UJF and the EMBL) on the same scientific campus. Globally, it will include 17 teams and about 250 personnel within a new building in which the former IBS teams are already installed since November 2013. A team will remain in the CIBB building located about 250 meters from the new IBS building. The IBS teams will benefit from impressive up to date infrastructures in structural biology.

Unit name:

IBS will remain associated with the PSB (Partnership for Structural Biology) which has been created to foster the structural biology around the ESRF and the ILL. A "Fédération de recherches" will be created to strengthen the partnership with the EMBL.

Management team

Eva Pebay-Peyroula will step down from her director position at the end of 2014. Her succession has been well prepared. After an open call at the international level, the search committee preselected 3 candidates who were further interviewed by the steering committee of the IBS. Mr Winfried WEISSENHORN (professor at the UJF and group leader at the UVHCI) was finally selected and will officially take the directorship of IBS in January 2015. He will be assisted by Dr Jacques NEYTON as deputy director, who was already present in the previous period and will assist him in administrative duties. 2  Overall assessment of the unit Global assessment of the unit IBS is one of the leading institutes in the field of structural biology in the world. It is strongly supported by CNRS, CEA and University Grenoble-Alpes. It houses several platforms offering state-of-the-art technologies in structural biology. Several groups are developing new methodologies and sophisticated instrumentation. This is indeed part of the mission of the IBS to give access to those technologies to the structural biology community.

HCERES nomenclature

The integration of the structural virology teams previously located in the UVHCI is an opportunity to expand the range of scientific topics, which currently include membrane protein structures, metalloenzymes, macromolecular assemblies, and to generate enhanced synergy among these topics.

Globally, the scientific production of the teams composing the future IBS is excellent and several teams have been doing outstanding work during the assessed period. Furthermore, given the outstanding expertise and technology platforms available to its members, IBS is well positioned to further increase the impact of its research activities.

The future research plans are a logical extension of the current activities of the teams which are organized around four axes termed "Host-pathogen interaction and diseases", "Structural and chemical biology of cellular processes", "Membrane processes and proteins" and "Methods for dynamic structural biology".

Overall, the experts committee has felt a positive atmosphere for all staff members. However, although the fusion has been carefully planned, inherently to any restructuration process, there are some questions on the future organization among the IBS personnel. The experts committee recommends reinforced attention is given to these concerns during this transition period. The experts committee also felt that the four axes, as well as the titles of some individual projects, could be defined more precisely to increase the visibility of the research performed at the Institute.

Strengths and opportunitiesin relation to the context

IBS is strongly supported by University Grenoble-Alpes, CEA and CNRS.

The excellence of the past research argues in favor of the new scientific project.

Most of the teams are funded by external grants for the next two or three years.

IBS is home to several international scientific leaders in structural biology, with complementary expertises, resulting in a strong attractiveness of the Institute for young researchers and in opportunities for international collaborations.

IBS teams benefit from an impressive local concentration of cutting edge technologies and from the excellent organization of state-or-the-art platforms run by the Institute. This impressive infrastructure favors (and should continue to facilitate) some rewarding collaborative projects between IBS teams.

Strong involvement of the IBS members in teaching which helps attract Master and PhD students.

The current director has prepared her succession very well.

Weaknesses and threats related to the context

Several of the teams that include several PIs appear to have difficulties to find a focused research theme, and in a small number of cases, the experts committee was not convinced by the scientific coherence of their organization.

The research axes, as currently defined, do not contribute to the visibility and readability of the research performed in the IBS.

Any evolution of the ANR policy might have strong effects on the funding of IBS teams which are highly dependent on ANR grants.

There is a need for more expertise in molecular modelling, computational biology and bioinformatics. Some cutting-edge technologies are developed in the absence of a strong exemplifying, biology-driven, project.

As in any restructuration process, the vision of the management may not be shared by all the IBS members.

Recommendations

The experts committee recommends to recruit a researcher with a track record attesting interest for structural and integrative aspects, in a key area of cellular biology.

The experts committee recommends to recruit a researcher in computational biology, molecular modelling or bioinformatics with an attested will to collaborate on a biology-driven key project of the institute.

In the frame of the fusion with the UVHCI teams, the axes should be redefined with a focus on the most promising projects to increase the visibility and the readability of the research performed in the Institute.

During this transition period, the communication inside the Institute deserves a reinforced attention.

  , Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris (representative of the CoNRS) Ms Marie-Thérèse GIUDICI-ORTICONI, CNRS, Marseille (representative of the CoNRS) Ms Yvonne JONES, University of Oxford, United Kingdom Ms Claudine MAYER, Université de Paris Diderot (representative of the CNU) Ms Elena ORLOVA, University of London, United Kingdom Mr Harmut OSCHKINAT, University of Berlin, Germany Mr Emmanuele PACI, University of Leeds, United Kingdom Mr Dirk J SLOTBOOM, University of Groningen, Holland Mr Thilo STEHLE, University of Tuebingen, Germany Scientific delegate representing the HCERES: Mr Georges MASSIOT Representatives of the unit's supervising institutions and bodies: Mr Gilles BLOCH, CEA M me Christelle BRETON (representative of Doctoral School N°218) Mr Eric DEFRANCQ, Université Joseph Fourier Mr Jean-Claude MICHALSKI, CNRS 1  Introduction History and geographical location of the unit

Unit workforce Number as at 30/06/2014 Number as at 01/01/2016

	Doctoral students	58
	Theses defended	69
	Postdoctoral students having spent at least 12 months in the unit	75
	Number of Research Supervisor Qualifications (HDR) taken	16
	Qualified research supervisors (with an HDR) or similar positions	64	64
	SVE1 LS1 and LS6, ST2
	Unit workforce
	Unit workforce	Number as at 30/06/2014	Number as at 01/01/2016
	N1: Permanent professors and similar positions	49	50
	N2: Permanent researchers from Institutions and similar positions	41	41
	N3: Other permanent staff (without research duties)	74	74
	N4: Other professors (Emeritus Professor, on-contract Professor, etc.)	2	2
	N5: Other researchers from Institutions (Emeritus Research Director, Postdoctoral students, visitors, etc.)	51
	N6: Other contractual staff (without research duties)	15
	TOTAL N1 to N6	232	167


Evaluation report

This report is the result of the evaluation by the experts committee, the composition of which is specified below.

The assessments contained herein are the expression of an independent and collegial deliberation of the committee.

Unit name:

Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience The Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience (IINS) was officially created January 1st 2011 with the CNRS and Bordeaux University as host institutions. Its predecessor was the UMR CNRS 5091 "The cellular physiology of the synapse" which has been directed by Mr Christophe MULLE for 12 years. The main objective of the unit was the molecular, cellular and physiological study of glutamatergic synapses, with a focus on glutamate receptors. Four of the current IINS team leaders were part of this former unit (THOUMINE, CHOQUET, GROC, MULLE), four groups joined when IINS was created (SIBARITA, NÄGERL, HUMEAU, LANDRY), and a new group out of the THOUMINE team is applying for independence (GIANNONE). The unit is currently situated in the Institute Francois Magendie, an INSERM building on the campus of University de Bordeaux 2, with additional lab space in the "Génomique Fonctionnelle" building on the same campus. To alleviate current space problems and allow for further dynamic growth of the unit, a new building is under construction, to be completed in 2016. The scientific scope of the IINES spans molecular, cellular and circuit level neuroscience questions with a special emphasis on cutting edge microscopy techniques. The IINS has an external Scientific Advisory Board composed of renowned scientists from France, Germany and Switzerland which visited and assessed the institute in January 2014.

Management team

The research unit is directed by Mr Daniel CHOQUET with Mr Marc LANDRY serving as a deputy director. A team council consisting of the individual team leaders meets with the director and deputy director on a bimonthly basis. 2  Overall assessment of the unit

HCERES nomenclature

SVE1_LS5

SVE1_LS3

Unit workforce

Unit workforce

Global assessment of the unit

Research from the unit has significantly advanced our understanding of synaptic function and receptor trafficking and has brought new methods and imaging modalities to the neuroscience community. The results have been published in leading international journals (121 publications in total, 52 in journals with IF>7). Technological breakthroughs in the fields of superresolution microscopy and image analysis contributed significantly to the success of the unit and have led to 9 patents. The unit has been an important motor for the development of neuroscience in the Bordeaux area. Members of the unit have made very notable contributions to the French and European neuroscience community. The planned federation with IMN and BIC for administrative rationalization, shared facilities and broader scientific interactions is strongly supported by the committee. Twenty-six doctoral degrees have been awarded during the past five years. A new generation of successful researchers has emerged from the unit. The IINS consistently attracts a very high level of external funding, a demonstration of the scientific excellence and competitiveness of the present teams. External funding at this level may be challenging to maintain in the future. The rapid growth of the unit during the past 4 years results in a high number of staff (61%) on temporary contracts. The international reputation of the unit is outstanding. Weaknesses and threats related to the context -extreme gender imbalance at the team leader level, complete lack of role models for female scientists; -possible delays in delivery of the new building; -financial aspects of building maintenance and administration of the unit are not sorted out.

6

Recommendations

The relatively tight focus on the organization of glutamatergic synapses, which was extremely successful in the past, could be extended to more physiological preparations in the next expansion period, as technological developments allow.

To prevent overspecialization of the unit by further inbreeding, future team leaders should be recruited through open and international calls. Excellent female researchers should be encouraged to apply.

  , IBENS (representative of the CoNRS) Mr José A. ESTEBAN, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Madrid, Spain Mr Dominique MULLER, Centre Médical Universitaire, Genève, Switzerland Ms Geneviève ROUGON, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone, Marseille Mr Philippe VERNIER, Paris-Saclay Institute of Neuroscience, Gif-sur-Yvette Mr Denis VIVIEN, Cyceron, Caen (representative of the CNU) Scientific delegate representing the HCERES: Mr Jean-Marie ZAJAC Representatives of the unit's supervising institutions and bodies: Mr Pierre DOS SANTOS, Université de Bordeaux Mr Roger MARTHAN (director of the Doctoral School SVS n° 154) Ms Florence PARNIER, CNRS

  Strengths and opportunities in relation to the context -technological and conceptual leadership in membrane molecule dynamics; -excellent leadership on the unit level and at the level of the individual teams; -a high number of teams led by dynamic young investigators; -high level of synergy between technologically and biologically oriented teams.

Number as at 30/06/2014 Number as at 01/01/2016 N1: Permanent professors

	and similar positions	8	8
	N2: Permanent researchers from Institutions and similar positions	22	21
	N3: Other permanent staff (without research duties)	18	18
	N4: Other professors (Emeritus Professor, on-contract Professor, etc.)	1	1
	N5: Other researchers (Emeritus Research Director, Postdoctoral students, visitors, etc.)	28	22
	N6: Other contractual staff (without research duties)	26	8
	TOTAL N1 to

N6 103 Unit workforce Number as at 30/06/2014 Number as at 01/01/2016

	Doctoral students	23
	Theses defended	18
	Postdoctoral students having spent at least 12 months in the unit	16
	Number of Research Supervisor Qualifications (HDR) taken	5
	Qualified research supervisors (with an HDR) or similar positions	15	14


3

Evaluation report

This report is the result of the evaluation by the experts committee, the composition of which is specified below.

The assessments contained herein are the expression of an independent and collegial deliberation of the committee. LECA is performing outstanding research on mountain ecosystems and is strongly involved in training by research. Using concepts and methods from ecology and evolutionary biology, the unit aims at understanding ecosystem functioning and the maintenance of biodiversity, and to predict their responses to environmental change. On this topic, LECA has published more than 500 articles in international peer-reviewed journals (3/4 in journals of the first quartile including Nature, Science, PNAS, TREE, Ecology Letters) during the last 5 years and three members of the unit appeared among the top cited researchers in the field of Ecology and Environment (ISI Web of Knowledge). LECA has a unique place at the UJF (Université Joseph Fournier of Grenoble, now member together with the Université de Savoie of University Grenoble Alpes) as it is, locally, the only laboratory doing research in ecology. As a consequence, professors and researchers are deeply involved in training by research. They notably provide, annually, 5,400 hours of teaching in ecology and evolutionary biology and LECA is entirely responsible for the management of the Master Biodiversité Écologie and Évolution (BEE). The unit is also involved in the management of two other Masters, in the organization of several international summer schools and partner of several European teaching programs for PhD students. Accordingly, 35 PhD were defended at LECA in the last 5 years (28 ongoing). LECA has a high success in participating in or leading national and international projects, a strong involvement in initiating and/or coordinating research networks or platforms, an active participation in national and international expert panels, and displays an internationally recognized attractiveness for scientific visitors and new recruitments. LECA can be considered as one of the most influential research units working in ecology and evolution in France. It displays a very strong international recognition.

Unit name:

Finally, it is noteworthy that the recommendations that were put forward by the previous expert committee have been fully taken into account by the research unit. In particular, researches on ecotoxicology have been strengthened by 1) focusing more on a set of precise questions, 2) developing tight interactions with other projects performed at LECA (notably with the team GBA) and 3) recruiting an assistant professor to reinforce the team.

Strengths and opportunities in relation to the context

LECA has three competitive advantages: 1) the diversity and quality of the research carried out, 2) its strategic positioning in Grenoble/Chambéry and 3) its involvement in training by research.

1) The diversity and quality of research undertaken can be measured by the quantity, diversity and quality of LECA's publications. This research momentum certainly explains the ability of researchers to coordinate and/or to participate in numerous projects funded by local, national and European agencies.

2) Its positioning in Grenoble/Chambéry is interesting for two reasons. First, it is the only laboratory of Ecology at the UJF. Hence, it appears as a key unit not only for promoting this field of research locally, but also for all interdisciplinary projects that incorporate ecological and/or evolutionary dimensions. Second, due to its access to observation and experimentation fields nearby, LECA has focused its research on alpine/mountain environments. This gives the unit a strong originality in the national and international context. Moreover, much of the research themes developed by LECA around this alpine ecosystem are very relevant to society (and this enhances the ability of the unit to obtain funding) as they involve conservation biology, environmental health and sustainable development.

3) LECA provides complete coordination of a master and is heavily involved in two other Masters. This massive involvement in teaching strongly increases the capacity of the unit to attract students (Masters and PhD students).

Weaknesses and threats related to the context One of the strengths of LECA is its commitment to developing multidisciplinary programs. This originality can however also convey a threat as most topics are covered by only one or a few researchers. In a context where hiring new scientists is particularly difficult, the sustainability of this diversity and the associated ability to carry out multidisciplinary projects can be easily undermined. In addition, while the overall research dynamics -and associated publications -of the unit is remarkable, it is partly based on the dynamics of a few individuals, and their departure might significantly weaken the unit. The current cut in research funding could also lead to a reduction in the capacity of LECA 1) to fund internal (multidisciplinary and innovative) projects and 2) to recruit temporary staff (especially technical). This non-permanent staff -which has greatly increased in recent years -currently ensures a considerable part of the work required by the unit projects. Technicians and engineers currently meet the administrative and scientific needs generated by the multiple contracts obtained by LECA. However, this achievement is done at the expense, for most of them, of a strong work pressure. Finally, the current renovation and maintenance works of the building where LECA is hosted would apparently not be sufficient to cater for the actual needs of office and lab space.

Recommendations

The expert committee recommends the LECA members to maintain their efforts 1) in attracting new forces to preserve (and, ideally, to reinforce) the existing skills. This effort must not only be focused on the recruitment of researchers and professors, but also of technicians and engineers in order to keep a reasonable C & EC/ITA ratio in the unit, 2) in obtaining the possibility of internal promotion from assistant professor to professor and 3) in gaining more space (including the building of greenhouses) to perform their researches in good conditions.

The expert committee recommends the management team to maintain the very collaborative attitude that characterizes LECA. For this purpose, the management team might need to develop tools for mitigating problems which may arise from a new internal organization no longer based on teams. The management team could notably improve the procedure to obtain technical support for PhD students, organize more than one "journée des entrants" per year, ensure that ITAs homogeneously and fairly appear as co-authors in scientific publications.

The management team could help non-permanent staff -and notably those recruited on long-term contractsto obtain reliable information on the Sauvadet act. They indeed need to better know their rights and to be better informed on the policy currently adopted by the institutions and research bodies the LECA depends on.



  , CNRS, Banyuls-sur-Mer (representative of the CoNRS) Ms Nathalie MACHON, MNHN, Paris (representative of the CNU) Mr Robby STOKS, University of Leuven, Belgium Scientific delegate representing the HCERES: Mr Gabriele SORCI Representatives of the unit's supervising institutions and bodies: Ms Christelle BRETON (representative of the Doctoral School -Chimie et Sciences du Vivant -CSV -ED n° 218) Mr Eric DEFRANCQ, Université Joseph Fourier Ms Anne GUERIN-DUGUE (representative of the Doctoral School « Ingénierie pour la Santé, la Cognition, l'Environnement » -EDISCE -ED n° 216) Ms Martine HOSSAERT, CNRS Mr Roman KOSSAKOWSKI, Université de Savoie 1  Introduction History and geographical location of the unit The Laboratoire d'Écologie Alpine (LECA) was created in 2003 from the fusion of four entities: the Laboratoire de Biologie des Populations d'Altitude (LBPA, UMR 5553, population genetics and biology); the Groupe d'Etudes sur le Devenir des Xénobiotiques dans l'Environnement (GEDEXE EA 2945, ecotoxicology), Ecosystèmes et Changements Environnementaux (ECE, EA 3112, ecology), and the ATIP team of Sandra Lavorel (functional ecology). LECA is located in two cities 45 km apart: Grenoble [Campus Université Joseph Fourier (UJF), Saint Martin d'Hères] and Chambéry [campus Université de Savoie (UdS) Mont Blanc, Bourget du Lac]. Other professors (Emeritus Professor, on-contract Professor, etc.) N5: Other researchers (Emeritus Research Director, Postdoctoral students, visitors, etc.Overall assessment of the unit Global assessment of the unit


president Didier Houssin

Olivier Thomas

Evaluation report

This report is the result of the evaluation by the experts committee, the composition of which is specified below.

The assessments contained herein are the expression of an independent and collegial deliberation of the committee.

Unit name:

Laboratoire National des Champs Magnétiques Intenses The "Laboratoire National des Champs Magnétiques Intenses" (LNCMI) is "Unité Propre" of CNRS (UPR) and "Infrastructure de Recherche" (IR), associated with INSA Toulouse, Université Grenoble 1 and Université Toulouse 3, acting as a national user facility for high magnetic field research. LNCMI results from the merging in 2009 of "Laboratoire National des Champs Magnétiques Pulsés" (LNCMP) in Toulouse and "Laboratoire des Champs Magnétiques Intenses" (LCMI) in Grenoble.

LNCMI covers all aspects of magnet technology, both pulsed and static, and of research in high magnetic fields as well as the development of associated instrumentation. Its missions are: (i) to generate the highest possible magnetic fields for research purposes; (ii) to use these fields for in-house research and to develop the necessary scientific instrumentation; (iii) to provide access to qualified French and foreign users to these high magnetic fields and the surrounding scientific infrastructure.

LNCMI is located on two sites: Grenoble (CNRS campus on "Polygone Scientifique") and Toulouse (Rangueil campus), 500 km apart. In the following these are named LNCMI-G and LNCMI-T.

Management team

The management team of the LNCMI consists of a director (Mr Geert RIKKEN) who divides his time between the two sites, and two deputy directors, one for the LNCMI-G (Ms Françoise HIPPERT) and one for the LNCMI-T (Mr Oliver PORTUGALL).

HCERES nomenclature ST2 Physique. 2  Overall assessment of the unit

Unit workforce

Unit workforce

Global assessment of the unit

LNCMI is an excellent laboratory and user facility. The two sites -Grenoble and Toulouse -are very complementary (DC magnetic fields in Grenoble and pulsed magnetic fields in Toulouse) and a good synergy is being promoted both in scientific and technical issues. LNCMI develops technical researches on magnet technology and instrumentation under high fields as well as scientific research on different topics: nanophysics and semiconductors, strongly correlated electron systems, magnetism, magnetoscience, optics and dilute matter. As a user facility LNCMI is visited every year by around 200 scientists from all over the world who are attracted by the quality of the instruments and the high level of expertise of the technical and scientific staff. The scientific and instrumental excellence that has been developed by the LNCMI, enabled it to gain a strong international recognition in various fields of condensed matter physics. The projects for the next 5 years are ambitious and if properly funded will give LNCMI the proper conditions for remaining a world-class facility.

Strengths and opportunities in relation to the context

The excellent magnets and infrastructure along with first-rate technical and scientific staff are obvious strengths of the unit. Outstanding instrumental developments have allowed several important scientific breakthroughs.

Real opportunities exist in Grenoble for collaboration with the beam-line facilities to provide high fields to users of both neutron and photon sources.

The unit has a remarkable implication in training. The quality of defended PhDs is very high as evidenced by the publications.

Weaknesses and threats related to the context funding for renewal and upgrade of aging facilities should be secured (DC converters in Grenoble); -increasing cost of electricity will need a commensurate increase in budget;

the very interesting developments around neutron and X-ray sources need increasing manpower if leadership is to be maintained;

the number of PhD students is small in a competitive environment for attracting students in physics.

Recommendations

The committee recommends to:

continue developing world-class instrumentation and science;

continue to consolidate the relationship between the two sites even if their merger in 2009 has been a real success;

develop links with industry and promote technology transfer based on the unique advanced instrumentation know-how available in the laboratory;

increase the number of PhD students;

develop activities around neutron and X-Ray sources;

develop new partnerships within European high magnetic field facility (EMFL).

  Ms Catherine GOURDON, Université Pierre et Marie Curie -Paris 6 Mr Luc LE GRATIET, CNRS, Marcoussis Mr Philippe MENDELS, Université Paris Sud (representative of CNU) Mr Eric PALM, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, USA Mr Jean-Pascal RUEFF, Synchrotron SOLEIL (representative of CoNRS) Scientific delegate representing the HCERES: Ms Sylvie MAGNIER Representatives of the unit's supervising institutions and bodies: Mr Éric BENOIST (représentant de l'École Doctorale n°482 « Sciences de la Matière ») Mr Johann COLLOT (représentant de l'École Doctorale n°47 « École Doctorale de Physique de Grenoble »


president Didier Houssin

Derek Mann

Evaluation report

This report is the result of the evaluation by the experts committee, the composition of which is specified below.

The assessments contained herein are the expression of an independent and collegial deliberation of the committee.

Unit name:

Bordeaux Research in Translational Oncology

Management team

The Bariton is headed by Mr Jean ROSENBAUM supported by the deputy director Mr Jean-Philippe MERLIO. team 3 -Cutaneous lymhoma oncogenesis, led by Mr Jean-Philippe MERLIO is focussed on important clinical research on primary cutaneous lymphoma including the identification of cytogenetic markers and the role of telomere lesions.

HCERES nomenclature

Strengths and opportunities in relation to the context

BaRITOn has an excellent internationally renowned director and very strong team management who bring together skills and resources from basic research and clinical investigations that have the potential to make considerable impact on the translation of cancer biology to new diagnostics and therapeutics. The unit has a strong publication record (370 articles since 2009) and regularly publishes in the top papers in their respective fields of research. A particular strength is the continued recruitment of new investigators (4 recent academic recruits) which ensures new skills and avenues of research are brought to the unit. Established members of the unit have national and international visibility at expert groups and influential committees as well as having strong participation in scientific meetings. The three research teams are located in adjacent laboratories which ensures their strategic goal for close interaction and sharing of resources can be achieved. Funding for research is good in all three teams. Access to clinical material and in vivo experimental models are considerable strengths.

Weaknesses and threats related to the context

While BaRITOn members have a strong publication track record they do not currently publish in the highest impact journals (unless as contributory middle authors), this may reflect an apparent inability to attract high quality postdoctoral researchers from overseas and that not all of the teams have full-time scientists. Futhermore, the three full-time scientists of Bariton belong only to team 1. While not essential, lack of top-tier publications will impact on reputation and international visibility as well as ability of the unit to win major external grant funding. The latter is a concern when considering that cancer is a highly competitive field both in the basic and clinical arenas. A further identified weakness is that at present there is not strong evidence for joint projects between the three teams which would help with developing unit cohesion and overall strategic direction.

Recommendations

There is a need for closer integration of the three teams, for this purpose the director may consider strategic use of future PhD studentships and contributions from individual grants to fund joint projects.

  , INEM, Université Paris Descartes Mr Michel SANSOM, Inserm, Université de Rennes 1 (representative of CSS Inserm) Mr Michel SIMONET, Université de Lille (CNU representative) Scientific delegate representing the HCERES: Ms Maryam MEHRPOUR Representatives of the unit's supervising institutions and bodies: Mr Pierre DOS SANTOS, Université de Bordeaux Mr Yannick LUNG, Université de Bordeaux Mr. Roger MARTHAN (director of the Doctoral School SVS n°154) Ms Anne ROCHAT, Inserm 1  Introduction History and geographical location of the unit The Bordeaux Research in Translational Oncology (BaRITOn) results from a large restructuration of 3 pre-existing labs: Inserm U 1053 "Pathophysiology of Liver Cancer", Inserm U 853 "Helicobacter infection, Inflammation and Cancer" and EA 2406 "Histology and Molecular Pathology of Tumors". These three teams are located in adjacent buildings on the Carreire site of University of Bordeaux.

2

  Overall assessment of the unit Global assessment of the unit The research unit, Bordeaux Research in Translational Oncology (BaRITOn) is a conglomeration of three research teams carrying out important bench-to-bedside research which tackles ongogenic processes in the liver, gastrointestinal tract and the skin. In combination the three teams have strong scientific background, important complementary skills enabling basic, translational and clinical investigations and the potential for delivering research that can bring about change in the clinical management of oncology. The unit has a strong director (Mr Jean ROSENBAUM) and three clearly defined research teams each headed by investigators who have a high quality track record of publications and good visibility in their respective fields. The teams consist:team 1 -Liver Carcinogenesis and Tumour Invasion, led by Ms Violaine MOREAU and focussed mainly on basic research into the molecular mechanisms of hepatocellular carcinoma, additionally the team is involved in translational research; team 2 -Helicobacter infection, inflammation and cancer are to be led by Mr Philippe LEHOURS and are focussed on translational research utilising in vivo models to understand inflammatory processes associated with H. pylori infections and how this pathogen promotes gastric cancers, additional research addresses the cytopathic mechanisms of H. pylori, vaccine development and a role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease;


Norbert Mr

Rolland

Jean-David Mr

Rochaix

Andreas Mr

Bausch

Ms Andrea Hemmerlin

Ms Anne Krapp

Ms Franziska Turck

Ms Nathalie Verbruggen

Steven G Mr

Ball

This report is the result of the evaluation by the experts committee, the composition of which is specified below.

Representatives of the unit's supervising institutions and bodies:

Management team

Since 2011, the LPCV has been directed by Dr Norbert ROLLAND/Dr Laurent BLANCHOIN respectively as director/deputy director with the assistance of permanent administrative staff composed of one CEA Technician and one CNRS Technician and with the help of a temporary CNRS staff. The management team is assisted by the laboratory council, the scientific council and the management council. At the end of the preceding period LPCV encompassed 8 scientific research teams with a high level of scientific autonomy, each of which was managed by a group leader. For the next period, the same management team is envisioned while the 8 teams will be restructured into 7 teams headed by one or eventually two distinct scientists. LPCV is a research unit devoted to research on plant development, chloroplast biogenesis, metabolism and photosynthesis, and cytoskeleton assembly. The overall scientific quality of LPCV is outstanding both in qualitative and quantitative terms. Most of the 7 teams of this unit have published in journals with high impact factors and several important breakthroughs have been reported in galactolipid metabolism, thylakoid membrane channels, transcription factors and actin filaments. Moreover, widely accessed on-line databases contribute to the appeal of the unit. The different teams have been particularly successful in external collaborations, which have resulted in cuttingedge science. Beside its heavy involvement in basic research, LPCV has also successfully engaged in more applied projects resulting in many patents. In addition, this unit has made efforts of communication to the media and public, especially with regard to GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) technology. The overall management and organisation of the unit has been outstanding over the evaluation period. LPCV is heavily involved in teaching and takes care of a large part of teaching plant science at the UJF (University Joseph Fourier now UGA (University Grenoble-Alpes)). Through its scientific excellence LPCV has gained international recognition and attracted foreign students and researchers.

HCERES nomenclature

Sous domaine AEE (Agronomie

Strengths and opportunities in relation to the context

LPCV has made important contributions in several areas of plant science during the period 2009-2014 including the regulation and dynamics of the photosynthetic machinery, galactolipid metabolism, subcellular proteomics, cell and tissue morphogenesis and transcription factor structure/function evolution. Teams of the LPCV have made several break-through discoveries resulting in publications in high ranking journals including: Identification of Galvestine 1 as a specific inhibitor of monogalactosyl-diacylglycerol synthases through a large scale screen which opens new powerful tools for studying galactolipid metabolism in plants and algae as well as of chemicals which trigger accumulation of triacylglycerol in algae.

Identification of a thylakoid two-pore K+ channel involved in the control of light energy utilization.

Establishment of a subplastid proteomics data base of more than 1000 proteins for Arabidopsis which provides a global view of the subcellular compartmentalization of organellar biosynthetic pathways.

Demonstration that the LFY transcription factor involved in the formation of novel stem cell centers during flower development evolved through the transient presence of both ancient and new structural features.

Establishment of a novel approach for the local and temporal control of the nucleation and growth of actin filaments to determine cytoskeletal structure formation processes and their functional consequences.

During the last granting period LPCV has attracted two new prominent investigators in the areas of bioenergetics of photosynthesis, chloroplast biogenesis and retrograde signaling. Both of these investigators have made important contributions to their field in the past and will significantly strengthen and widen the expertise of LPCV in plant biology. Furthermore, a young principal investigator has recently selected the LPCV to establish an ATIP-avenir team. Altogether there has been a significant increase in international researchers during the last granting period, which shows that LPCV is scientifically attractive.

LPCV has acquired strong technical expertise for proteomics and more recently in nanotechnology, imaging and surface modification in the context of studies of the cytoskeleton. LPCV has been very active in the context of biotechnology and communication to society by filing several patents and by being heavily involved in the public GMO debate.

Close proximity to the main UJF campus and a strong involvement of university staff in teaching at UJF provides an excellent platform to attract students. LPCV hosts many PhD and other postgraduate students, who strongly contribute to the quality of the research. Numerous opportunities are available and have been seized to explore collaboration and joint funding with teams in similar fields of expertise both at the national and international level. This further enhances the potential for high-impact research through collaboration. There is also a very dynamic regional environment for translational research. The unit is embracing this opportunity with a number of initiatives, which bring together expertise in basic science at the unit with industrial partners. Some of the specific research areas and topics are highly original and competitive at the international level.

Weaknesses and threats related to the context

The research entity is organized as seven independent teams, each one having its own leadership and scientific policy. The scientific strength of all the teams is outstanding to excellent, with a great international visibility. Attention should be paid in keeping the scientific focus and avoiding too much dispersion.

A major limitation for the current and future development and success of the unit is the lab space situation. The current lab building imposes not only limitations to research efforts but also poses a serious security issue due to its deterioration. Although a new building had been already planned and was close to realisation, all efforts have been cancelled. Immediate action is required.

The access of Master-and PhD students and Postdocs to the CEA campus is over-regulated. The regulations limit the effective work conditions seriously -a permanent access to them is required to be competitive in the research. Access is needed also after the official contract is finished, the possibility of immediate prolongation of PostDoc contracts and re-entry into the labs is mandatory.

Recommendations

The LPCV teams and the management team should be congratulated for their outstanding performance during the last granting period and encouraged to continue their work at the same pace. A strategy has to be found to provide an adequate lab environment for the unit, to not only ensure lab safety but also further developments of the unit. It is important that the LPCV management finds ways to fill in the following positions:

An additional administrative position is critically needed for the administration of a unit of 100 persons at the LPCV.

The CRSSA-employed technician at work in the lipidomics facility has been granted the reception of a permanent position by the CNRS. The unit should find ways to implement the conversion of this position in the very near future as this is mandatory to be able to further develop the lab and respond to new challenges and demands, resulting from the high dynamics and productivity of the lab.

The bioinformatics expertise is seriously understaffed and needed within this laboratory. This threatens the outstanding performance of the unit.

Attention should be paid to provide the best possible support to the three team leaders who joined LPCV recently.

The teams of LPCV have been successful in obtaining national grants. They are encouraged given their excellent scientific status to apply for more European grants including ERC. Particular efforts should be made to increase the attractiveness for researches eligible for EMBO, Marie Curie and HFSP fellowships.

  Ms Christelle BRETON (Doctoral School UJF -Chimie et Sciences du Vivant ED n°218) Mr Johann COLLOT (Doctoral School UJF -École Doctorale de Physique de Grenoble ED n°47) Ms Alix DE LA COSTE, DSV-CEA Mr Franck FIESCHI, Université Grenoble Alpes Mr Thierry GAUDE, CNRS, INSB 1  Introduction History and geographical location of the unit The LPCV (Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale) UMR is a joint laboratory (Unité Mixte de Recherche, UMR 5168) of University Grenoble Alpes, the CNRS (INSB) and the CEA. It is also tied by contract to the INRA with the USC (Unité sous contrat) status. The INRA contemplates associating itself to the three other funding bodies for the next term in the form of an UMR. The UMR is located on the West CEA Campus of Grenoble and is a member of the iRTSV (Institute of life sciences and technologies) a "Research Federation" (FR) specialized in proteomic analysis and uniting 4 distinct research units associated with the CEA, the INSERM, the INRA, the CNRS and the Grenoble Alpes University. The joint unit currently contains 6 teaching staff members (professors and assistant professors) and 27 CNRS/INRA/CEA researchers (directeurs de recherche and chargés de recherche, cadres confirmés et supérieurs du CEA). The technical staff is composed of 19 members (engineers and technicians from the CNRS, INRA and CEA). There are currently (as of June 2014) 20 PhD students and 20 postdocs. The current yearly budget of the unit consists of 183 kEuros (not including salaries) from the research bodies (CNRS/CEA/INRA/University) topped by an average of 2000 kEuros from research contracts (including salaries of temporary staff (PhD students, postdocs, technicians)).

N6:

  Other professors (Emeritus Professor, on-contract Professor, etc.) N5: Other researchers (Emeritus Research Director, Postdoctoral students, visitors, etc.) 10 7 Other contractual staff (without research duties) Overall assessment of the unit Global assessment of the unit


Evaluation report

This report is the result of the evaluation by the experts committee, the composition of which is specified below.

The assessments contained herein are the expression of an independent and collegial deliberation of the committee.

Unit name:

Institut Néel The laboratory is organized in three strongly interacting scientific departments, each of them involving research teams and technological groups:

the NANO Department (NANO) is dedicated to nanoscience, meaning physical properties of nanoscale objects and their implementation for applications in energy, information, technology and biology;

the Condensed Matter -Low Temperatures department (MCBT) is focused on research of new states in condensed matter, new phases of helium isotopes and development of original instrumentation, in particular for the benefit of other scientific fields such as astronomy, fluid mechanics, or biophysics;

the Condensed Matter Materials and Functions Department (MCMF) develops crystallographic or spectroscopic studies, design and elaboration of functional materials for energy, spintronics, catalysis, magnetism, optics, superconductivity and biophysics.

Management team

-Mr Alain SCHUHL, director;

-Mr Hervé COURTOIS, deputy director and director of the NANO department;

-Mr Pierre-Étienne WOLF, deputy director and director of the MCBT department;

-Mr Alain IBANEZ, deputy director and director of the MCMF department;

-Mr Philippe GANDIT, deputy director and technical director.

HCERES nomenclature

ST2 Physique

Unit workforce 2  Overall assessment of the unit

Global assessment of the unit

The Néel Institute is the largest French laboratory in the field of condensed matter physics. Its scientific production is outstanding and its national and international reputation is very high.

Founded in 2007 by the merger of several laboratories, the institute has gradually developed an efficient and collegial organization, thanks in particular to the quality and dynamism of its management. It now presents a very unique synergy between experimentalists, theoreticians and technological services which allows for the development of original and innovative projects at the forefront of the domain.

The Néel Institute benefits from the particularly fertile scientific environment of Grenoble and of the Rhône-Alpes region while contributing to it in a remarkable way. It has developed many local, national, international or industrial partnerships and has a strong societal impact, with in particular a large effort concerning technology transfer and dissemination of the scientific culture.

The involvement of the Néel Institute in scientific training is important at all levels, especially at the PhD level.

For all the above reasons, the Néel Institute attracts very promising young researchers, which portends a bright future for the laboratory.

Strengths and opportunities in relation to the context

scientific excellence:

• outstanding production and visibility of the research teams;

• strong links between theoreticians and experimentalists;

• exceptional technical expertise and know-how;

• high national and international visibility;

• number and quality of the local, national and international academic and industrial partnerships;

• high attractiveness for PhD students, post-docs, visitors and young talented researchers;

exceptional scientific environment:

• location in the very fertile "Polygone scientifique" of Grenoble (CEA, LNCMI, ESRF, ILL, LabEx Lanef, Nanoscience foundation, GIANT project...);

• long standing links with the University Joseph Fourier and Grenoble INP. The merging of these institutions into the Université of Grenoble Alpes may simplify research management and enhance visibility of research;

• new building dedicated to nanosciences with outstanding performances;

large societal impact:

• priority given to innovation and technology transfer;

• strong implication in the dissemination of science;

organisation and life:

• leadership;

• efficient structure with three levels of management (laboratory, departments and teams);

• collegial internal organisation;

• quality of the scientific animation;

• sharing of financial resources.

Weaknesses and threats related to the context significant disparity between the departments in the evolution of their size and in their ability to attract PhD students or postdocs;

critical size of some research activities;

difficulties for some young researchers to realize the project for which they have been hired;

obsolescence of some vital scientific equipments and difficulty to find fundings to replace them;

evolution of the funding of research. The part of recurrent funding is declining quickly as well as the ANR success rate for a fundamental physics laboratory as the Néel Institute (9 projects funded in 2014 against about 18 in previous years). It results in :

• difficulties to conduct a scientific policy, to develop new activities or to welcome young researchers;

• individualization of research projects;

• increasing complexity of the financial management;

• dramatic increase of non-creative tasks for researchers;

lack of career prospects in particular for assistant professors and technical staff;

insufficient involvement of the staff of the institute beyond the board of directors in the development of the Grenoble Alpes University.

Recommendations

The main recommendation is to continue in this way, by maintaining the unique synergy which exists in the Néel Institute between fundamental research at the highest level and innovative experimental developments.

It should be ensured that the undertaken reorganization to rebalance the three departments leads to the development of new collaborations between teams or poles without weakening the existing ones.

The size of some research activities is becoming subcritical, mainly due to retirements. This problem has to be tackled, either by reinforcing these activities or by reorganizing the different teams. One should keep in mind that a strong richness of the Néel Institute comes from the balanced coexistence of nanophysics activities and more traditional condensed matter ones. This equilibrium has to be maintained because it is potentially a source of very fruitful collaborations.

A particular attention must be paid to the welcoming of the new researchers who regularly join the lab. This is especially true for the young researchers, who represent the future of the institute. They should be given the proper conditions to develop the project for which they have been hired.

During the evaluation period, the Néel Institute young researchers have been very successful in the ERC Starting grant program. Surprisingly, despite their very high level, the Néel senior scientists did not apply for the Advanced grant programm. Such applications (as well as applications to the recent Consolidator grant programs) should be encouraged since they play a very important role in terms of structuring and funding of the research.

Significant efforts have been made concerning technology transfer and valorization. These efforts must be continued in order to best exploit the huge potential of the Néel Institute in this domain.

Researchers and technical staff must be concerned by the development of University Grenoble Alpes which is potentially very important for the Néel Institute. Actions to involve all the staff in this project should be carried out.

  Marc BERROIR, École Normale Supérieure de Paris Experts: Mr Jacek ARABSKI, Université de Strasbourg Mr Alberto BRAMATI, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Mrs Maria CHAMARRO, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Mr Bernard DECONIHOUT, Université de Rouen Mr Christophe DELERUE, Institut Supérieur de l'Électronique et du Numérique Mr Christian ENSS, Universität Heidelberg, Kirchhoff-Institut für Physik, Germany Mr Gwendal FEVE, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Mr François GALLET, Université Paris -Diderot Mr Bernard GIL, Université de Montpellier Mr Karol HRICOVINI, Université de Cergy-Pontoise (représentant du CNU) Mr Stéphane JOBIC, Université de Nantes Mrs Agnès MAITRE, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Mr Frédéric MILA, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland Mr Frédéric N'GUYEN VAN DAU, CNRS / Thalès, Palaiseau Mr Xavier OBRADORS, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Spain Mr Sylvain RAVY, Université Paris -Saclay Mr Dimitri RODITCHEV, École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de la ville de Paris Scientific delegate representing the HCERES: Mr Serge BOUFFARD Representatives of the unit's supervising institutions and bodies: Mr Didier BOUVARD, Grenoble INP Mr Johann COLLOT (directeur de l'École Doctorale n°47 Physique) Mr Giancarlo FAINI, CNRS -Institut de Physique Mr Niels KELLER, CNRS -Institut de Physique Mr Yassine LACKNECH, Université Joseph Fourier Mr Gérard MEUNIER (directeur-adjoint de l'École Doctorale n°220 EEATS) 1  Introduction History and geographical location of the unit Institut Néel is a fundamental research laboratory in condensed matter physics located in the Polygone Scientifique of Grenoble. It has been founded in 2007 through the fusion of four laboratories (Centre for Research on Very Low Temperatures, Laboratory for the Study of Electronic Properties of Solids, the Crystallography Laboratory and Louis Néel Laboratory), and a few teams coming from other laboratories.

Unit workforce Number as at 30/06/2014 Number as at 01/01/2016

	N1: Permanent professors and similar positions	48	47
	N2: Permanent researchers from Institutions and similar positions	110	108
	N3: Other permanent staff (without research duties)	122	119
	N4: Other professors (Emeritus Professor, on-contract Professor, etc.)	1
	N5: Other researchers (Emeritus Research Director, Postdoctoral students, visitors, etc.)	60	51
	N6: Other contractual staff (without research duties)	4	2
	TOTAL N1 to N6	345	327
	Unit workforce	Number as at 30/06/2014	Number as at 01/01/2016
	Doctoral students	96
	Theses defended	146
	Postdoctoral students having spent at least 12 months in the unit
	Number of Research Supervisor Qualifications (HDR) taken	26
	Qualified research supervisors (with an HDR) or similar positions	109	108