Giovanni Mr

Levi

Mr Laurent Sachs

Helgi Mr

Schiöth

Mr Marc

Ms Bérengère Fromy

PENICAUD Mr Luc

Stromalab

Ms Armelle Leturque

Jean-Denis Mr

MNHN Vigne

INTRODUCTION HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE UNIT

The Laboratory of Physiology of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN) is the first laboratory of French physiology. It is located in the heart of Paris, in the "Jardin des Plantes". It was founded in 1837 by Mr Frédéric CUVIER. Among his successors, one could find illustrious scientists like Mr Marie-Jean-Pierre FLOURENS and, in the 20th century, Mr Maurice FONTAINE who became director in 1943. He initiated the interest of the laboratory for comparative endocrinology. It was under his direction that the laboratory was associated with the CNRS and became an UMR.

In more recent years, this unit renamed "Évolution des régulations endocriniennes" was under the direction of Ms Barbara DEMEINEX and Mr Giovani LEVI (CNRS) successively.

SCIENTIFIC DOMAIN

The main objective of the unit is to understand physiological processes that control development, tissue homeostasis, regeneration and aging. More precisely, the unit analyses how thyroid hormone controls metabolic responses and developmental processes, and how endocrine disruptors impact on the thyroid hormone signal.. The other two main areas of research relate to the role of homeobox genes in the control of metabolism, reproduction and cognition, and to the assembly and annotation of the transcriptome of amphibian models and evolutionary studies of neuropeptides.

UNIT WORKFORCE

GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF THE UNIT

The unit has a high international recognition with number of very strong scientific accomplishments, thanks to efforts of the leaders of the current and previous management team. There is a proven track record of publications with high inherent quality and impact. The overall output of the unit continues to meet the expectations considering the size and historic achievements. Overall, the unit has an excellent record in attracting both European and national grants as well as participation in European networks.

High profile senior staff members will be retiring over the next few years and the unit is undergoing a transition, with new teams being formed and a rearrangement of the scientific structure. This transition is an opportunity to maintain and further build upon the high scientific standards of the unit, but it also represents a major challenge. The new organization of research groups represents an opportunity for the talented younger generation emerging in the unit. However, currently this generation has limitation in their experience of leading reach and obtain grants in their own name. Further development of the new scientific leaders is crucial for the future success.

Renovations of the facilities will be important for enhancing the strength of the unit and its competitiveness within the scientific community. The unit should continue improving the quality and maintenance of the core facilities, in particular the animal facilities. Evaluation and renovation of the animal facilities should be a very high priority for the unit and attracting top rank researchers to the unit; not doing so could potentially endanger the unit. While the overall research is of a high standard, there are several issues raised in this report that suggest that some of the researchers may need to have a more prominent role in important scientific projects. Some of the projects may lack competitive edge to attract funding or generate high impact publications, and some research projects require more manpower and expertise to materialize their ambitions. Some groups may not be at a critical mass to produce the highest quality research and there is a need for improved integration between groups. The proportion of international researchers is low and stronger outreach is warranted. There are only few activities that aim to attract industrial funding. It is important to further develop strategies for implementation of novel methodologies as well as for purchasing new equipment, which is crucial for maintaining high scientific standards. Integration and synergy between groups and some individual researchers are somewhat lacking.

The evaluation reports of Hceres are available online : www.hceres.com

Evaluation of clusters of higher education and research institutions Evaluation of higher education and research institutions Evaluation of research Evaluation of doctoral schools Evaluation of programmes Evaluation abroad

  It is part of the MNHN department « Adaptations du Vivant » and belongs to the CNRS « Institut des sciences biologiques » (INSB).

	The unit is located in the historical buildings of MNHN, 7 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris.
	MANAGEMENT TEAM
	Director: Mr Giovanni LEVI. Deputy heads: Ms Barbara DEMENEIX and Mr Laurent SACHS; future director: Mr
	Laurent SACHS.
	HCERES NOMENCLATURE
	SVE5_1; SVE2_3.

permanent staff 32 28 Non-permanent staff

	Non-permanent professors and associate professors, including emeritus	0
	Non-permanent full time scientists, including emeritus, post-docs	0
	Non-permanent supporting personnel	3
	PhD Students	6
	TOTAL non-permanent staff	9
	TOTAL unit	41
	Unit workforce	Number 30/06/2017	Number 01/01/2019
	Permanent staff
	Full professors and similar positions	6	4
	Assistant professors and similar positions	6	6
	Full time research directors (Directeurs de recherche) and similar positions	2	2
	Full time research associates (Chargés de recherche) and similar positions	1	1
	Other scientists ("Conservateurs, cadres scientifiques des EPIC, fondations, industries, etc.")	0	1
	High school teachers	0	0

Evolution of Endocrine Regulations, ERE, MNHN, CNRS, Mr Giovanni LEVI, Mr Laurent SACHS 5 Supporting personnel (ITAs, BIATSSs and others, notably of EPICs) 17 14 TOTAL

expert committees and signed by their chairman." (Article 8, paragraph 5); collegial reviewing by the committee.


Grading

Once the visits for the 2012-2013 evaluation campaign had been completed, the chairpersons of the expert committees, who met per disciplinary group, proceeded to attribute a score to the research units in their group (and, when necessary, for these units' in-house teams). This score (A+, A, B, C) concerned each of the six criteria defined by the AERES. NN (not-scored) attached to a criteria indicate that this one was not applicable to the particular case of this research unit or this team. Criterion 1 -C1: Scientific outputs and quality; Criterion 2 -C2: Academic reputation and appeal; Criterion 3 -C3: Interactions with the social, economic and cultural environment; Criterion 4 -C4: Organisation and life of the institution (or of the team); Criterion 5 -C5: Involvement in training through research; Criterion 6 -C6: Strategy and five-year plan.

With respect to this score, the research unit concerned by this report and its in-house teams received the following grades:

table of the unit: Evolution of physiological regulations C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 A A+ A+ A A+ A+  Grading table of the team: Integration of thyroid hormones signalling C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 A+ A+ A+ A A+ A+  Grading table of the team: Molecular regulations of morphogenetic processes C1  Grading table of the team: Development and evolution of neurosecretory systems C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6

 Introduction History and geographical location of the unit

This unit has a long and prestigious history in the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris. Created by Frédéric CUVIER (brother of the paleontologist) in 1837, it was directed by famous scientists such as Jean-Marie FLOURENS and Claude BERNARD. During the 20 th century, Maurice FONTAINE initiated the interest for comparative endocrinology and associated the laboratory to CNRS. This history is still very present among the people working in the unit who are very proud of its filiation.

The Unit "Evolution des régulations endocriniennes" is located in the historical buildings of MNHN, at 7 rue Cuvier, Paris 5° and composed of 4 teams, 2 of them being recently created. A majority of scientists are Enseignants-Chercheurs at the MNHN; this means that they have teaching duties in addition to research activities.

Management team

Ms Barbara DEMENEIX (BD) PR-CE MNHN is director of the unit for 2008-2013 and Mr Giovanni LEVI (GL) DR1 CNRS is proposed for the period 2014-2018.

AERES nomenclature

SVE1_LS4, SVE1_LS3

Unit workforce This unit has very strong scientific accomplishments, clearly apparent when looking at the rationale of its objectives and programs, at the number, level and quality of publications and at the place that the unit is holding in the economy and society.

•

The current director of the unit has a strong and uncontestable international and national position in the field of Thyroid Hormones (TH) and has a real impact on general physiology in various species. She is a strong motor of the unit, and she allies scientific excellence, human qualities and a very efficient dynamism.

•

The unit is also internationally recognized in its field.

•

The unit is strongly supported by the two institutions MNHN and CNRS.

•

The unit thematics are now well integrated within MNHN priorities and provide to this institution new concepts and new lines of work which are not explored elsewhere.

•

The creation and further development of a spin-off, which has now 15 employees, a turnover of 1 Million Euros and clients in Europe, Japan and USA, is a tangible proof of the implication of the unit in the socio-economic tissue. This is based on a patent licensed exclusively by MNHN and CNRS to this spin-off.

• Relationships with Human clinicians and agricultural research also demonstrate the interest of the programs and results of the unit.

• Due to its recognized excellence and to the international networks initiated by the two leader scientists this unit is ranked 1 st at MNHN in terms of external fundings. This includes several EU projects, some of them leaded by the unit.

•

The strength of the unit is based on the strength of its teams and on the cohesion of all the members of the unit where engineers, technicians and students share the enthousiasm and dynamism of the scientists.

Opportunities

•

The existence of a strong potential for the emergence of new teams among the present members of the unit.

•

The foreseen recruitement of high quality Associate professor and Professor on the positions provided by MNHN this year and their possible insertion in 2 of the existing teams.

• The renewing of approaches and concepts, as well as tools, in the areas of physiology, evolution, ecotoxicology and transcriptional regulation.

Weaknesses and threats

Weaknesses

• Desequilibrium among teams both in size and scientific production.

• Low number of post-docs, especially foreign ones.

Threats

• Risk of insufficent transmission of network contacts to the young unit members to maintain in the future international leadership in European consortia.

Recommendations

-Continue the reflection and the efforts to re-equilibrate the size of the teams by increasing that of the smallest ones.

-Maintain the former director, at least for some years, in a (even non-official) position aside to the new director, within the management board, to facilitate the transmission of her contacts and know-how.

-Define collectively within the unit a strategy for attachement to doctoral schools (to maintain student flow and increase HDR number).

 Detailed assessments

Assessment of scientific quality and outputs

The unit has produced major breakthroughs in the field of TH receptors during the period (for instance: role of TH in regulation of the MC4R gene, in neural stem cell emergence and in regulation of neurogenesis; genes and factors controlling craniofacial development; histone methylation in gene regulation by TH) and would be able to continue to do so in the future by developing new concepts and ideas about the relationship between environment and physiology of living organisms (for instance: effects of endocrine disruptors on obesity, evolution of neurosecretory systems). The scientific production in terms of publications reaches the highest international standards with journals of very high IF (Cell Stem Cell IF 25), prestigious general journals (PNAS), and an average IF of published papers higher than 5 (Development, HMG, Endocrinology). This deliberate policy of publishing in excellent scientific journals is done while maintaining and average of more than one publication per scientist per year, with all scientists publishing during the period. The unit is clearly a leading unit in the field. The tools and methods are of very high international standard and some of them (for instance those used by Team 3) should provide new insights into "old" questions.

Assessment of the unit's academic reputation and appeal

The unit has clearly an outstanding level in this domain. Scientists are invited to present communications at major international conferences (about 40 during the period) and one of them received international awards for the work done in the unit as a mentor. The unit is leading 2 major European networks and participates in 8 other ones. The unit welcomes numerous foreign scientists for sabbatical stays. The unit participates in 7 projects funded by the "French National Research Agency" (ANR : Agence Nationale de la Recherche) (6 as coordinator), to 4 projects funded by the "French Muscular Dystrophy Association" (AFM : Association Française contre les myopathies) and one project funded by a "Pôle de compétitivité" set up in the "Ile-de-France" Region. The unit has co-organized an international conference on endocrine disruptors and a national conference on nuclear receptors.

Assessment of the unit's interaction with the social, economic and cultural environment

The unit is at the origin of the creation and the success of a spin-off company which creates and develops amphibian models for in vivo detection of the endocrine disruptor activity of chemicals and cosmetics for environmental risk assessment and drug discovery. It has now 15 employees, a turnover of 1 M€ and contracts in different EU countries, USA and Japan. The original test is currently in the process of validation by OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), which may insure its probable worldwide development. The company has been licensed by MNHN and CNRS the right to use a patent deposited by the unit.

All members of the unit aim to share their objectives, projects and results with the general public and have achieved this goal through original events and productions (theater play, cartoons, participation in MNHN activities etc.).

Assessment of the unit's organisation and life

-The governance is recognized by all members of the unit as efficient and all members share the scientific objectives of the unit.

-The Laboratory Council meets regularly and on exceptional occasions if necessary. Collegial decisions regarding the life of the Unit are being taken.

-Rooms hosting the mammalian part of the animal facilities were recently renovated and the technicians of both animal facilities are responsible and efficient in their work.

-Management of the personnel (technicians, students and postdocs) follows adequate rules. Scientific temporary personnel recognized that the Direction of the Unit is doing efforts to follow their career, even after departure from the unit.

-The proposition done for the renewal of the director of the unit was discussed among the scientists, the putative director for the period 2014-2018 (presented a project for managing the unit for the next five years, and a vote has been organized during a General Assembly which expressed a strong consensus for the perspective proposed.

-However, the committee wants to stress that conditions of work in the different laboratories are very variable, some labs having been renovated recently, while others have not.

-The committee wants also to point out that there is only one administrative personnel to manage the numerous contracts obtained by the unit. This situation could be dangerous.

-Finally, a plan of action in case of flooding by the Seine river exists (a centennial flood would submerge the ground level of about 1.5 meters which would be catastrophic for animal facilities and deep-frozen samples), but this plan is not well known by every member of the unit.

Assessment of the unit's involvement in training through research

-The unit has a deliberate strategy to monitor students' activities and careers.

-All Master and PhD students are carefully followed during their stay in the lab.

-PhD students are stimulated to present their results in international conferences.

-PhD grants with the industry using the CIFRE ("Conventions Industrielles de Formation par la REcherche") system, allow the students to discover the industry and the differences between basic and applied sciences.

-All students are able to follow specific courses of the different doctoral schools to which the scientits of the unit are attached.

-After the defense of their PhD, young Doctors are followed by the direction of the unit who knows exactly where they are and in which position, after helping them to find a post-doc, if required.

Assessment of the five-year plan and strategy

-The scientific strategy is excellent, based on an ambitious and innovative programme. The combination of emerging ideas and new tools is expected to produce new and fruitful results for the next contract, mainly because their feasability has been already explored.

-The new ideas and directions, at the interface between physiology/endocrinology and environmental toxicology, are especially interesting and may provide novel insights to help explain the profound and permanent effect of endocrine disruptors on phenotypes.

-The next project seems very feasible to the committee because it will be run by highly qualified scientists who already proved their engagement and dynamism as project leaders, and because of the existence of already established technical and/or bioinformatic tools required to reach the objectives of the proposed project.

-Due to its participation in high profile networks and because the unit pilots some of them, the unit has a very good knowledge of its scientific and technical assets and this will be especially useful for exploring new lines of research during the next contract.

-The follow-up of the spin-off company with the present Director of the unit acting as the principal scientific advisor, associated to the rapid development of the company, especially abroad, could be of major interest for the whole project of the unit. It is answering an important demand in the area, both from governmental bodies and industrial companies, and may help to provide resources to the unit and to ensure the progress of techniques for monitoring the environment.

4  Team-by-team analysis The scientific production of the team was good at the beginning of the evaluated period and has become very good during the past three years. Altogether 21 articles have been published, among which a major contribution on the role of thyroid hormone on stem cell signaling (Cell Stem Cell) and 3 articles in scientific journals with a very high impact factor (Methods Mol Biol and PNAS). Most of the recent articles of the team are published with young researchers as senior or co-senior authors indicating a very good transmission of the leadership.

The unit, via this team "Integration of thyroid hormones signalling" is recognized as an international leader in the field of endocrine disruption involving thyroid hormone. In particular, it has a very high potential for identifying new targets and generating new tools for studying thyroid hormone availability and detection of pollutants. Members of the team have participated to the organisation of an International Symposium on Endocrine Disruption in Melbourne (Australia) in 2008. In addition to this scientific output, the team is also involved in scientific communication with the general public, through the publication of several flyers and comic strips with the MNHN.

Assessment of the team's academic reputation and appeal

The team leader is regularly invited to meetings in France and abroad and her international scientific reputation is high. Recently (in 2011), she has received an award from the very famous Nature publishing group for her outstanding efforts to mentor young researchers. Moreover, the team has an exceptional ability to establish collaborations and get fundings. Over the past 5 years it has participated in 8 European networks (2 as co-ordinator), and in projects funded by ANR (2, including 1 as co-ordinator), by AFM (2 projects) and by a pôle de compétitivité. This national and international visibility brings a high attractivity to the team and allows the recruitment of scientists on MC (Maître de Conférences) and post-doctoral positions.

Assessment of the team's interaction with the social, economic and cultural environment

The team has created a Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) spin off that generates in vivo amphibian models for pharmaceutical screening and environmental monitoring. The company employs 15 people and has a turnover of more than 1 M€ from Europe and USA. It holds a license to exploit a major patent from the team, which has been extended to Japan in 2011. Very recently (2012) Team 1 has identified early embryogenesis as a new developmental window for thyroid hormone action. From these findings, a novel OECD test is currently under development (Xenopus Embryonic Test Assay).

During the evaluated period, the interaction with industrial environment has provided collaborations and 2 PhD grants to team 1. Finally, the members of team 1 are very active in the diffusion of knowledge to the general public through their activities in the MNHN and through open days (Fête de la science, specific publications).

Assessment of the team's organisation and life

The management of the team is very good. However, it could be better by improving communication among scientists of the team. Indeed, the Friday meetings are maybe not sufficient to discuss other scientific points such as the submission of proposals (ANR…). Moreover, during the discussions, the committee felt some concern of scientists on the future of the team. The leader of the team has a very strong relational network with the different EU projects that she obtained; maybe she should begin to transmit this network to the future team leaders. The associate professors from MNHN have also claimed a better recognition of all their missions, especially for teaching, by the team leader. Finally, the committee has noted very good relationships between scientists, technicians, students and post-docs.

Assessment of the team's involvement in training through research

The committee has noted that the students and post-docs were very happy to work in this team. There is an excellent supervision or co-supervision by the scientists and the team leader. Each PhD student or post-doc has his/her own project and there is no overlap in the projects (so it means no competition between students). Thus, there is a good working atmosphere among the students of the team. The PhD students and post-doc participate in international events and are involved in Master teaching. The team leader is very involved in the "after thesis" for the PhD students to find them a postdoc and also in the career of the post-docs. Some post-docs wish to come back in the lab. The committee strongly think that the scientists could support their HDR (it's a real pleasure to defend his or her HDR !).

Assessment of the five-year plan and strategy

The project proposed by this team is excellent, very innovative and feasible since the team has already obtained or showed its capacity to get national or international grants. The team has developed an original approach on iPS (induced Pluripotent Stem) cells but we can regret that it is not exploited in the strategy. At the national level, the team has the leadership in the thematic "T4 hormone and aging", it will be a very good opportunity for the new professor to be in charge of this thematic.

Conclusion

 Strengths and opportunities:

The team has demonstrated its exceptional ability to find significant financial resources and has good opportunities for international collaborations. Its scientific activity is very good and innovative. The team leader is one of the key opinion leaders in the field of thyroid hormone and endocrine disruption, at the interface between Environment and Physiology.

Moreover the team has participated to the creation of a SME (Small to Medium Enterprise) spin off, and developed fruitful relationship with industry over the past years. Finally, the research topics of the team are part of the scientific priorities of the MNHN.

Team 1 develops two axes of research, the first one on central hypothalamic control of metabolism and a second one on stem cell function during development. The future recruitment of a new professor is expected to strengthen one of these axes, and might eventually allow the emergence of a new autonomous team.

 Weaknesses and threats:

The sub-division of the team into sub-groups corresponding to the different axes of research weakens the communication between researchers within the team. Paradoxically, some of the members of team 1 communicate more with researchers from other teams than with those of their own team. The strong international recognition of the team leader might obstruct the development of other senior researchers of the team. The transmission of the leadership could lead to a decline in the international visibility of the team and to a decreased ability to obtain funds.

 Recommendations:

The committee recommends improving communication among the researchers of the different sub-groups of the team. The team leader will have to continue helping senior researchers to become autonomous (defend their HDR) and to find a significant place in international networks. Finally, a profound reflection will have to be engaged on the future of the team after the recruitment of the new professor, possibly by proposing the creation of two independent teams emerging from the current axes of research.

Team 2 :

Molecular regulations of morphogenetic processes Name of team leader: Mr Giovanni LEVI

Workforce

Assessment of scientific quality and outputs

This team has had a very good record of publications, publishing in very specialized journals (one publication being awarded by the James G. Wilson Publication Award of the Society for Teratology, an award for the best publication in the journal Birth Defects Research) but also in more general journals top rated in the field of Developmental Biology or Human Genetics (2 Development, 2 PNAS, 1 Human Molecular Genetics, 1 American Journal of Pathology). This team is working on a very specialized area (Dlx5/6 genes and cranio-facial morphogenesis in the mouse embryo), having many years of expertise in the field of molecular genetics of the development of the mouse embryo and having a very good connection with clinics leading to publications with a clinical impact. A true asset of this team is a surgeon (PUPH), working part-time, who is a recognized expert in the field of craniofacial development, malformation and repair: his expertise in the manipulation of chicken embryo complements very efficiently the mouse molecular genetics. The candidate gene approach and the analysis of the phenotype of the mutant followed by this unit has open new areas of studies that led to publications. This process has been supported by very active and productive collaborative works. This team has very precise chicken embryology technics.

Assessment of the team's academic reputation and appeal

This team is very well integrated within the priorities of the MNHN and some of the future projects are based on tight collaborations with other teams of the MNHN in the field of paleontology and zootechnology. This team has an international visibility with very strong collaborations with researchers of different countries that had the opportunity to stay for sabbatical stays, leading to publications. The team leader and members have been invited to 18 national and international conferences as speakers. The team leader is a very efficient leader in terms of succesful grant applications. The team has been involved in 3 ANR, (1 as coordinator), 1 AFM project and, last but not least, 3 EU grants for a total of 1.4 million euros for EU grants and 460000€ for national grants, over the evaluated period. New applications are in progress.

Assessment of the team's interaction with the social, economic and cultural environment

Because of the presence of a part-time PUPH in the team and also because of its main research theme, the group has established connections with clinicians and clinical research. They also actively participate to a large dissemination of knowledge on embryology through national associations and various media (television and documentary). One member of the team is a national expert for the Tribunal de Grande Instance, Cour d'Appel and Cour de Cassation.

Assessment of the team's organisation and life

The team being small (only 2 full time researchers, 7 total persons over the period), it is difficult to appreciate this criteria, but placed in the perspective that the team leader will take the head fo the unit, a more formal organization will have to be set up in order to take into account his new responsabilities.

Assessment of the team's involvement in training through research

The team is well implanted in the MNHN, participating in some of the missions of the MNHN: all the researchers of the team are involved in teaching but also in the organization of the Master "From DNA to biodiversity: regulations during morphogenesis" and the module "Origin of the Head in Vertebrates: embryological, genetic and evolutionary aspects" of the Ecole Doctorale at the MNHN. They also teach in different Universities and also abroad (Stanford University).

During the time of evaluated period, 2 master students and 5 graduate students have been trained. All of the PhDs (one being awarded a prize : prix Arconati-Visconti of the Chancellerie des Universités de Paris in 2010) have been defended with publications. All these students are currently in post docs, or went back to their clinical duties (one veterinary, one dentist and one clinician). The team has also trained 2 post docs, one having been promoted CNRS CR1 during the evaluated period. There has been a problem to maintain a continuity in the recruitment of PhD students for the last year due to a change of Doctoral school. There is a need to attract more students by establishing a strategy.

Assessment of the five-year plan and strategy

Team 2 proposes a very good project with the clear intention to integrate more the general field of research of the unit. The project is clearly feasible since it is already partially funded with grants already obtained and others being submitted. However, the limited size of the team and the number of research axis axes will impose to continue to develop collaborations. A very good opportunity is the validated recruitment of a Maître de Conférence to strengthen the position of the team in the field of craniofacial development and its integration into the MNHN. On the more technical aspects, the team has already all the required expertise (chicken embryology, mouse molecular genetics) and all the new mouse lines are already on site to start the project.

Conclusion  Strengths and opportunities:

This team has a unique expertise in the field of craniofacial development and molecular genetics with a special emphasis on Dlx5/6 genes family. It has explored many areas of interest through excellent collaborations, including other functions relevant to clinical research. This team has a clear ability in building and getting funds from EU projects.

The location of this team in the MNHN is a clear opportunity for the development of ongoing projects (ie: craniofacial development and paleontology). This effort is supported by the MNHN since a position for a Maître de Conférence has been validated and will be opened in 2013.

 Weaknesses and threats:

The team leader wants to keep it that way, however, the size of the team is small considering the numbers of research axes proposed. There is a risk of dispersion due to the gene candidate approach of the team.

The team leader has been able to maintain the quality of the work of the team through his very centralized management. However, his new administrative duties as unit director might interfere with the management of the team.

 Recommendations:

In order to prevent dispersion and be able to tackle all the different aspects of the projet, the team has to continue to ensure collaborations. The new administrative role of the team leader as unit director should be an incentive to set up a new team management, relying more on the senior scientists of the team.

 Detailed assessments Assessment of scientific quality and outputs

This young team, which started in 2007 under the direction of a former scientist from Team 1 joined by another scientist, develops new lines of research aiming at deciphering variations in the 3D organization of the genome during metamorphosis. During the reporting period, the team produced an important paper regarding the chromatin attributes of thyroid hormone receptor (TR) binding sites at selected gene regulatory regions. Most importantly, in order to gain access to the 3 dimensional organization of the genome in relation with TR activity, the team engaged a difficult transition from single gene studies to genome wide approaches, including a state-of-the-art technology called ChIA-PET (Chromatin interaction Analysis with Paired-End Tag sequencing). This transition appears to have been successful and the team is now fully independent of the Singapore laboratory that developed the technique in running high technology research. This very important, innovative and promising methodology (i.e. ChIA-PET), shared by only a few labs in the world, is now run in the lab which is the only one applying it to animals in vivo, and, to our knowledge, is also the first one to use it in the field of TH signalling. The implementation of this methodology is original in this context and the efforts done to establish this technique compensate partly a rather low rate of publications. Nonetheless, high impact publications are expected in the near future. In order to facilitate genome wide studies in Xenopus tropicalis, the team has also been actively engaged in re-annotation of the genome and successfully reduced genome fragmentation.

Assessment of the team's academic reputation and appeal

This dynamic young team shows a very high potential and exhibited high enthusiasm. Members of the team have participated in numerous international conferences and have been invited in several instances to present their data. The committee was impressed by the very high complementarity between individual competencies, allowing an efficient partition of tasks within the team. It is anticipated that the international visibility of the team will increase substantially in a near future and this will likely impact also the visibility of the unit in general. The team has been involved in EU contracts, acting as workpackage leader, and is actively involved in the creation and activities of a national network on nuclear receptors. Finally, this team has been responsible for organization of the French nuclear receptors meeting.

Assessment of the team's interaction with the social, economic and cultural environment This team showed high enthusiasm about fulfilling the different missions devoted to MNHN scientists. Team members have engaged a number of collaborations within MNHN, notably regarding (i) TH dependent metamorphosis regulatory networks in several species, and (ii) sanitary conditions of amphibian colony breeding. In addition, the team produced a cartoon aimed at explaining the research run within a large EU consortium to the general public, and contributes to activities in schools and cultural dissemination in the MNHN.

Assessment of the team's organisation and life

It is difficult to assess the management skills of the team leader for such a small group. However, the high complementarity of team members has been noticed and is certainly an asset. The team skills in bioinformatics are also useful to other groups of the unit.

Assessment of the team's involvement in training through research

Both scientists have responsabilities in the management of Master studies at the MNHN and Paris XI University. A PhD student is currently in the group, and the team shows active mentorship through a number of short term internships. In addition, one team member is responsible for the C2I certificate ("Certificat Informatique et Internet") in the MNHN and is a C2I expert for the Ministry of Education.

Assessment of the five-year plan and strategy

The project is highly innovative and ambitious and the team has all the required competencies for its implementation. State-of-the-art technology and a well planned strategy should allow the generation of original and high value data regarding TR binding to chromatin and the 3D organization of TR dependent genomic regions in the context of metamorphosis. Although challenging, the project appears feasible since all the necessary tools and techniques are avaible in the group. This very innovative project is likely to generate publications in high impact journals and will be widely recognized by the scientific community.

Conclusion  Strengths and opportunities:

This team has developed very innovative tools and projects which could, in addition to enhance the international visibility of the team, be very useful for the scientific community and for the whole unit. This may impact the ability of the team and the unit to take leadership in a highly competitive field.

 Weaknesses and threats:

The publication level needs to be increased in the future not to become a potential problem for the team and the unit. The size of this team could also be problematic on a medium-term level if no personnel is recruited. The difficulty to recruit engineers in bioinformatics could also be a weakness on the medium-term.

The difficulty to extract scientific meaning from large amounts of data, as well as the reduced opportunities to secure funding for expensive experiments, could be threats.

 Recommendations:

It would be especially useful to continue the efforts to consolidate the team, by incorporating more Ph.D students and/or post-docs as well as by attracting scientists from other teams and from outside the unit.

In the same line, increasing ties with other groups using genome-wide techniques in Paris would be interesting and could indirectly help increasing team size.

 Detailed assessments Assessment of scientific quality and outputs

Assessment as a group is impossible because the team is composed of one single scientist (if it is done so, this will be an individual evaluation). In any case, the principal investigator has done interesting contributions to the field focused on the evolution of neuropeptide gene families in vertebrate. He has notably participated to the elucidation of the origin of three forms of GnRH (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone) of teleosts; the identification of two new peptides belonging to the family of Urotensin II in teleosts; the identification of the teleost orthologue of Urotensin IIrelated peptide of tetrapods. Therefore, despite his youngness it presents a robust track record in the field.

-Very young group, recently included in the unit.

-Papers in good journals in the field as first or last author.

-Very small team of only one scientist, still a research team in infancy.

-Very new and innovative subject of high interest for the MNHN and for the unit.

-Necessity of external funding (National and/or International).

Assessment of the team's academic reputation and appeal

-Invitations to international meetings.

Assessment of the team's interaction with the social, economic and cultural environment -Involvement in teaching, writing articles for educational and popular magazines; writing articles for the teaching online platform of the MNHN; lectures for training secondary school teachers provided by the MNHN.

Assessment of the team's involvement in training through research -Good involvement and welcome of Masters and PhD (1,5).

Assessment of the five-year plan and strategy

The first part of the project is scientifically highly interesting and new for the MNHN, this should be supported rapidly by grants obtained by the team itself.

The second part of the project, highly interesting because it provides a functional role for the above neuropeptides, is completely dependent of external collaborations. Its feasibility must be appreciated and, if done within the team, supported by recruitments to explore the phenotypes. A more mechanistic approach is recommendend by more lack and/or gain of function experiments. Besides morpholinos (which are the preferred method for embryologists), it would be ideal to use alternative mechanisms of gene expression repression.

The medium-term equilibrium between the two axes of the project must be discussed within the whole unit.

Conclusion

  Strengths and opportunities:New and attractive subject for the unit and the MNHN. Weaknesses and threats:One-scientist team with very little external fundings. Recommendations:Either increase rapidly the size of the team by being attractive for post-docs and scientists and raising funds, or join another team.

6

  Statistics by field: SVE on 10/06/2013 6  Statistics by field: SVE on 10/06

Specific points to be mentioned:

Mr Miguel LOPEZ (Universidad Santiago de Compostella, Spain) contribute to write the report, but unfortunately he was absent at the visit.


President Michel Cosnard

Denis Jabaudon

The president of HCERES "countersigns the evaluation reports set up by the experts committees and signed by their chairman." (Article 8, paragraph 5); 2 The evaluation reports "are signed by the chairman of the expert committee". (Article 11, paragraph 2).

This report is the sole result of the unit's evaluation by the expert committee, the composition of which is specified below. The assessments contained herein are the expression of an independent and collegial reviewing by the committee.

UNIT PRESENTATION Unit name:

Institut du Fer à Moulin The IFM then welcomed F. Francis in 2007, and in 2008 S. Lévi from the ENS joined the PONCER's group. Further calls for new teams led to the recruitment of two young group leaders, Mr M. GROSZER (from Oxford, UK) in 2009 and Mr M. MAMELI (from the University of Geneva, Switzerland) in 2010, the latter now being at Lausanne University since 2016. The most recent addition is the team of Mr S. NEDELEC, who applied to join the IFM at the end of 2015, after obtaining an ATIP/Avenir grant. A call for a new group leader/team at the IFM is currently ongoing with 10 short-listed candidates out of 39 applicants.

In 2008 and 2013, the IFM was evaluated by the AERES, whose conclusions were very positive. The current review period of the IFM is focused on 5 senior teams.

MANAGEMENT TEAM

The IFM is headed by a director, Mr J.A. GIRAULT, and a deputy director, Ms F. FRANCIS

HCERES NOMENCLATURE SVE4 Neurosciences

SCIENTIFIC DOMAIN

The IFM's scientific objective is to study the development and plasticity of the nervous system in mammals (mostly mice and human). This research aims at elucidating both the normal mechanisms and their alterations in major neurological and psychiatric diseases ('brain developmental disorders'), with the ambition to provide ideas for novel diagnostic or therapeutic methods. The IFM is comprised of research groups, performing their research along two axes: a-Development: Cortical development and its alterations responsible for neurodevelopmental disorders is a focus of several groups including proliferation and changed fate of progenitors, neuronal migration, neurite outgrowth and synaptogenesis, motoneuron specification, as well as the development of cortical and serotonergic neurons including of human origin using iPSCs. b-Plasticity: This includes neurotransmission and plasticity in the adult nervous system and their pathological and pharmacological alterations:: developmental alterations of serotonin (5HT) neurons and depression; role of the 5HT2B receptor in response to addictive and antidepressant drugs (SSRIs), role of this receptor in controlling microglia, and possible links with neuropsychiatric disorders; plasticity of GABA signalling in the hippocampal cortex ; intracellular signalling in striatal neurons in reward and motor control circuits and plasticity. The physiology and plasticity of lateral habenula neurons, which play a critical role in addiction and depression by controlling dopamine neurons has also been investigated in the unit.

UNIT WORKFORCE

GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF THE UNIT

The IFM was created as a Neuroscience Center ten years ago now, and is reaching an age of maturity, since it has established itself as an internationally acknowledged Institute. It is currently undergoing a transition phase in which several group leaders recently have left, are about to leave, or will leave in the next 5 years, such that key decisions on the scientific orientation of the Institute will have to be taken. This is, also an opportunity that appears to be well managed by the heads of the unit, in particular with the planning of new recruits based on thematically sound criteria (e.g. in vivo electrophysiology). This is an institute with an exceptional international visibility, outstanding reputation, and excellent productivity. The scientific strategy and projects are outstanding. The unit is well managed, highly productive in terms of science and has coherent thematic axes.

The intellectual and scientific environment at the IFM is very attractive for scientists, as evidenced by the high number of applicants to the recently opened position, such that the IFM is poised to further develop itself as a beacon in developmental neuroscience and plasticity.

A strength of the IFM is its interdisciplinarity, in which the relatively small size of the unit favours interpersonal and scientific exchanges. Areas of expertise include genetics, molecular biology, cellular biology, biochemistry, neuroanatomy and electrophysiology.

Common facilities accessible to all the teams are a natural complement to these active forces. The core facilities are a key asset to the IFM's productivity.

There are many ongoing interactions/collaborations between the IFM research groups that positively impact on the scientific quality and productivity of the institute. The unit has excellent dynamic interactions with the non-academic world and an excellent program in training through research.

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  Ms Carine BECAMEL, IGF, Montpellier, CNRS (representative of CoNRS) Mr Frédéric BRAU, IPMC, Valbonne (supporting personnel) Ms Colette DEHAY, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, Bron (representative of CNU) Mr Laurent GROC, IINS, University of Bordeaux Mr Josef KITTLER, University College London, United Kingdom Ms Ariane SHARIF, Centre de Recherche Jean-Pierre Aubert, Lille (representative of INSERM) du Fer à Moulin" (IFM) is affiliated with INSERM and Sorbonne University, "Université Pierre et Marie Curie" (UPMC). It is housed in an INSERM building in the neighbourhood of UPMC and "Hôpital la Salpétrière". The IFM was created in 2007 after the fusion of three INSERM Units: U.536 headed by Mr J.A. GIRAULT, U.706 headed by Mr A. SOBEL and U.616 headed by Ms P. GASPAR (with Mr J.L. MAROTEAU), as well as by the Avenir group of Mr J.C. PONCER.


President Michel Cosnard

Olivier Le Fèvre

This report is the sole result of the unit's evaluation by the expert committee, the composition of which is specified below. The assessments contained herein are the expression of an independent and collegial reviewing by the committee.

UNIT PRESENTATION

SCIENTIFIC DOMAIN

LERMA addresses topics in key areas of astrophysics, physics, and earth science. There are three main areas of activity: studying cosmology and the formation and evolution of galaxies, interstellar medium and plasma physics, and molecules in different environments in the universe. In addition, LERMA conducts technical developments of instrumentation, including remote sensing.

UNIT WORKFORCE

GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF THE UNIT

The LERMA is conducting front-end research in four areas, covering galaxies and cosmology, interstellar medium and plasma, molecules in the universe, heterodyne instrumentation and the development of innovative methodologies to retrieve key astrophysics and Earth variables from satellite and ground-based observations. The scientific production of the past period is of very high quality, with an impressive list of papers in refereed journals. A number of key results have high scientific standing in the international community.

The research staff has been maintained approximately constant over the period, with new people joining and compensating retiring personnel. There is a concern expressed for the future as the wave of retirements will continue, and ways to recruit new staff will have to be found to maintain LERMA standing.

The LERMA is strongly involved in teaching activities, including a high rate of PhD defended during the period.

The LERMA is spread over several disjoint sites, which is a clear difficulty to maintain a cohesive set of activities. However, the LERMA seems to cope quite well with this difficulty. Following the recommendations of the previous visiting committee, the previous management team prepared a restructuration resting on scientific poles rather than per site, following extensive consultations with the staff ahead of the merger with LPMAA (Laboratoire de Physique Moléculaire pour l'Atmosphère et l'Astrophysique). This new structure has been fully implemented by the current management team and is perceived as very positive.

INTRODUCTION

  HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE UNITLERMA is a department of L'Observatoire de Paris. It is located at 5 separate locations, two at L'Observatoire de Paris premises, one at UMPC, one at university Cergy-Pontoise, and one at ENS (Ulm). The Laboratoire de Physique Moléculaire pour l'Atmosphère et l'Astrophysique merged with LERMA in 2014.MANAGEMENT TEAMLERMA director Mr Dariusz LIS has set a management team with Mr Jean-Hugues FILLION and Mr Franck LE PETIT as deputy directors, Mr Jean-Michel KRIEG as technical director, Mrs Valérie AUDON for HR aspects and Mr Laurent GIROT (replaced by Mrs Murielle CHEVRIER in October of 2017) for financial aspects.HCERES NOMENCLATUREST3: Earth and Space Science.

Unit name :

 name Laboratory for Radiation and Matter Studies in Astrophysics and Atmospheres

	Unit acronym:	LERMA
	Requested label:	UMR
	Application type:	Renewal
	Current number:	8112
	Head of the unit (2017-2018):	Mr Dariusz C. LIS
	Project leader (2019-2023):	Mr Dariusz C. LIS
	Number of teams or themes: 4
	COMMITTEE MEMBERS
		Ms Chantal CLAUD, CNRS
		Mr Gilles KACZMAREK, CNRS (supporting personnel)
		Mr Stephan SCHLEMMER, Köln university, Allemagne
		Mr Karl SCHUSTER, Institut de Radio Astronomie Millimétrique
		Ms Annie ZAVAGNO, Aix-Marseille université (for representative of the Board
		of French Universities, CNU)

Chair:

Mr Olivier LE FEVRE, Aix-Marseille université

Experts:

Ms Aurore BACMANN, université de Grenoble (for representative of the National Committee for Scientific Research, CoNRS)

HCERES scientific officer: Mr Michel MARCELIN Representatives of supervising institutions and bodies:

	Mr Claude CATALA, L'Observatoire de Paris
	Mr Yves LASZLO, École normale supérieure
	Mr Guy PERRIN, CNRS-INSU

Mr Stéphane REGNIER, université Pierre et Marie Curie Mr Pascal VINCENT, université Pierre et Marie Curie Mr Dan VODISLAV, université de Cergy-Pontoise

Evaluation of clusters of higher education and research institutions Evaluation of higher education and research institutions Evaluation of research Evaluation of doctoral schools Evaluation of programmes Evaluation abroad

The evaluation reports of Hceres are available online : www.hceres.com

Evaluation of clusters of higher education and research institutions Evaluation of higher education and research institutions Evaluation of research Evaluation of doctoral schools Evaluation of programmes Evaluation abroad

The evaluation reports of Hceres are available online : www.hceres.com

Evaluation of clusters of higher education and research institutions Evaluation of higher education and research institutions Evaluation of research Evaluation of doctoral schools Evaluation of programmes Evaluation abroad


President Michel Cosnard

Chairman Richard Cogdell

This report is the sole result of the unit's evaluation by the expert committee, the composition of which is specified below. The assessments contained herein are the expression of an independent and collegial reviewing by the committee.

UNIT PRESENTATION

INTRODUCTION HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE UNIT

The laboratory is located in Paris on the "Rue Pierre et Marie Curie". It was founded in 1967 when most of its research was in the area of biophysical studies of photosynthesis. The laboratory belongs to IBPC ("Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique").

MANAGEMENT TEAM

The current director of the laboratory is Mr Francis-André WOLLMAN. The future director will be Ms Angela FALCIATORE.

HCERES NOMENCLATURE

SVE2; ST2; SVE1; ST4.

SCIENTIFIC DOMAIN

The laboratory works in the general area of the Physiology and Molecular Biology of the Chloroplast and will soon shift its emphasis to include studies on Diatoms. Over the subsequent years, the main emphasis of their research work has moved into more molecular studies aimed at understanding how photosynthesis is regulated and how it develops. In recent years, a lot of their work has exploited Chlamydomonas as a model organism.

UNIT WORKFORCE

Unit

GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF THE UNIT

The committee found that overall the laboratory was in very good shape. It was very impressed with the high quality of the science and the lab's productivity. Previously most of the research was in the general area of the biology of the chloroplast membrane, with a focus on the regulation of photosynthesis. In the next funding period the lab will get a new director and the research program will shift to include work with Diatoms and have a greater focus on genomics and bioinformatics. The committee endorses this change of emphasis, which was especially well justified in the talks from the theme leaders. In its core activities the lab was rated excellent/outstanding. It was clear from the committee's meetings with all categories of staff that the lab was well run and the staff were happy and enthusiastic about their science. The lab clearly functions as one integrated unit where everybody contributes to the development of its strategy and the delivery of its research program. The one weak area was that of interaction with the outside world to which the lab needs to pay much more attention in the future. The way the lab operates strongly encourages synergy and collaboration, however, this approach requires significant outside grant funding. The lab will need to prioritise seeking such funding if this approach is to remain sustainable.

  personnel (ITAs, BIATSSs and others, notably of EPICs)

Representatives of supervising institutions and bodies: Mr

	Unit name:	Membrane and Molecular Physiology of Chloroplast
	Unit acronym:	PMMC
	Requested label:	UMR
	Application type:	Renewal
	Current number:	UMR 7141
	Head of the unit (2017-2018):	Mr Francis-André WOLLMAN
	Project leader (2019-2023):	Ms Angela FALCIATORE
	Number of themes:	6
	COMMITTEE MEMBERS
	Chair:	Mr Richard COGDELL, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
	Experts:	Mr Debashish BHATTACHARYA, Rutgers University, United States
		Ms Véronique BRUNAUD, IPS2 INRA Saclay (supporting personnel)
		Mr Michael DUBOW, Université Paris-Sud (representative of CNU)
		Mr Philippe GIÉGÉ, CNRS, Strasbourg (representative of CoNRS)
		Mr Félix KESSLER, Université de Neuchâtel, Switzerland
	HCERES scientific officer:
		Mr Jean-François HOCQUETTE

Bertrand MEYER, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Ms Catherine RECHENMANN, CNRS

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President Michel Cosnard

Alan Dobson

Marcelino Mr

Suzuki

Alan Mr

Dobson

Ms Isabelle Bihannic

Alexis Mr

Dufresne

Mr Yvan

Mr Sylvain

Ms Anne Le Seach

Article 8, paragraph 5); 2 The evaluation reports "are signed by the chairman of

INTRODUCTION HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE UNIT

Founded in 2014 the LBBM is a joint University Pierre and Marie Curie (UPMC) and CNRS/ "Institut Écologie et Environnement", research and service unit, dedicated to advancing the field of environmental microbiology and biochemistry, with a particular focus on aquatic microorganisms, while responding to major societal challenges in the human and environmental health areas. It originated from the reorganisation in 2010 of the "Laboratoire d'Oceanographie Biologique de Banylus", following some strategic recruitment and in 2014 became the LBBM, following an internal restructuring and the development of a close relationship with personnel from the University of Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD).

The unit is located in two distinct sites, one in the "Observatoire Oceanologique" in Banyuls sur Mer and the other on the UPVD campus. The Banyuls facility is currently being reconfigured with additional space being added in the second half of 2017, to house new dedicated laboratories managed by the LBBM in 2018.

MANAGEMENT TEAM

GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF THE UNIT

The LBBM is an excellent, dynamic unit that conducts multidisciplinary research with both a fundamental and an industrial focus, in a synergistic fashion. Their research focus lies at the interface of environment and health and has clear societal benefits. It is funded through local and European, public and private sources and the unit has access to very high quality technical expertise and infrastructure. The LBBM is ambitious at the international level and has a promising future in the field of environmental microbiology. While focusing on the microbial ecology of aquatic environments and the role of biotic and abiotic factors on ecosystem functioning, they also strive to exploit the biotechnological potential of their research outputs. In this respect the LBBM has an outstanding record of fruitful collaborative industrial projects. The LBBM provides students with the possibility to acquire unique competences and high quality professional profiles in areas of environmental research, preparing them for careers in both the academic and private sectors. The integration of the BAE team from Perpignan, will add further dynamism to the unit and additional complementary competencies in the development of diagnostic tools with various biotechnological applications.

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Evaluation of clusters of higher education and research institutions Evaluation of higher education and research institutions Evaluation of research Evaluation of doctoral schools Evaluation of programmes International evaluation and accreditation

Unit workforce Number 30/06/2017 Number 01/01/2019 Permanent staff

	Supporting personnel (ITAs, BIATSSs and others, notably of EPICs)	9	8
	TOTAL permanent staff	23	20
	Non-permanent staff
	Non-permanent professors and associate professors, including emeritus	0
	Non-permanent full time scientists, including emeritus, post-docs	2
	Non-permanent supporting personnel	7
	PhD Students	11
	TOTAL non-permanent staff	20
	TOTAL unit	43
	Unit Head: Marcelion T Suzuki.
	Deputy Head: Muriel Bourrain.
	HCERES NOMENCLATURE
	SVE1 Agronomie, Biologie Végétale, Écologie, Environnement, Évolution.
	SCIENTIFIC DOMAIN
	Marine Microbial Biodiversity, Marine Microbial Ecology, Environmental Biotechnology.
	UNIT WORKFORCE
	Full professors and similar positions	6	4
	Assistant professors and similar positions	6	6
	Full time research directors (Directeurs de recherche) and similar positions	0	0
	Full time research associates (Chargés de recherche) and similar positions	1	1
	Other scientists ("Conservateurs, cadres scientifiques des EPIC, fondations, industries, etc.")	1	1
	High school teachers	0	0

expert committees and signed by their chairman." (the expert committee".


President Michel Cosnard

Yotis Senis

This report is the sole result of the unit's evaluation by the expert committee, the composition of which is specified below. The assessments contained herein are the expression of an independent and collegial reviewing by the committee.

UNIT PRESENTATION

SCIENTIFIC DOMAIN

The primary objectives of the unit are, understanding the molecular basis, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. The unit takes a transdisciplinary and translational approach to achieving these objectives. In addition to basic science that underpins research into causes of cardiovascular disease and identification of biomarkers and drug targets, the unit coordinates large clinical trials; develops new diagnostic markers, imaging technologies / techniques and assays; and devises new therapeutic and biomaterial strategies. In addition, the unit has generated large clinical databases, human tissue and cell biobanks. This is a brief summary of research objectives of the 6 teams: team 1, Cardiovascular immunobiology; team 2, Vascular structural diseases; team 3, Cardiovascular bioengineering; team 4, Cardiovascular imaging; team 5, Atherothrombotic disease in the heart and brain; and team 6, which emerged from team 1, Hemostasis, thromboinflammation, neurovascular repair.

UNIT WORKFORCE

GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF THE UNIT

Many of the same key senior investigators have remained part of the unit throughout its existence, providing a solid foundation for the research currently taking place at the unit. This has also brought prestige and vision to the unit. The next five-year cycle will see key leaders within the unit retiring or nearing retirement, raising the need for successors to be identified and developed. There is a very strong next generation of scientists in place now in some of the teams.

The unit has been highly productive in terms of publications (>1400 including the top 1% of generalist journals) translational findings, patents (21) and two spinoff companies. The unit was very successful in obtaining grants such as 19 ANR, participation to 4 RHU and coordination of one RHU, 2 H2020 and one ERC. The unit is involved in training with 40 PhD theses defended and 48 ongoing PhD. Future directions and objectives of the unit are logical progressions of ongoing research within the unit that should yield further scientific, clinical and therapeutic breakthroughs.

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INTRODUCTION

  HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE UNITInserm unit 1148 (Inserm U 1148), also referred to as the Laboratory for Vascular Translational Science (LVTS), evolved from Inserm U698, created in partnership with Universities Paris 7 and Paris 13 in 2005. U 698 was originally comprised of three teams, led by Mr Jean-Baptiste Michel, who remains part of the unit (emeritus).Inserm U 1148 is mainly located within a separate building on the site of Xavier Bichat Hospital, Paris, France. Technological platforms are partially offsite, at the Technological Institutes, University Paris 13.MANAGEMENT TEAMAs of 2012, Inserm U1148 was under the directorship of Mr Didier Letourneur. The head of the unit over the next five years (2019 -2023) is Mr Didier Letourneur, and deputy head is Mr Antonino Nicoletti.HCERES NOMENCLATURESVE5_2.

HCERES scientific officer: Ms Florence PINET Representatives of supervising institutions and bodies:

	Unit name:	Laboratory for Vascular Translational Science
	Unit acronym:	LVTS
	Requested label:	UMRS
	Application type:	Renewal
	Current number:	UMRS 1148
	Head of the unit (2017-2018):	Mr Didier LETOURNEUR
	Project leader (2019-2023):	Mr Didier LETOURNEUR and Mr Antonino NICOLETTI
	Number of teams:	6
	COMMITTEE MEMBERS
	Chair:	Mr Yotis SENIS, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
	Experts:	Ms Florence APPARAILLY, Université de Montpellier
		Mr Stéphane AVRIL, Université de Saint-Etienne
		Ms Reine BAREILLE, Inserm (supporting personnel)
		Mr Christophe BAUTERS, Université de Lille (representative of CNU)
		Ms Gisèle CLOFENT-SANCHEZ, Université de Bordeaux (representative of
		CoNRS)
		Mr Juergen SIEPMANN, Université de Lille (representative of Inserm CSS)
		Mr Fabrice SONCIN, Université de Lille
		Mr Jean-Pierre ASTRUC, Université Paris 13
		Ms Sylvie ROUSSET, Université Paris 7
		Ms Sabrina SALNOUN, Inserm

Unit workforce Number 30/06/2017 Number 01/01/2019 Permanent staff

	Supporting personnel (ITAs, BIATSSs and others, notably of EPICs)	26	21
	TOTAL permanent staff	104	107
	Non-permanent staff
	Non-permanent professors and associate professors, including emeritus	2
	Non-permanent full time scientists, including emeritus, post-docs	37
	Non-permanent supporting personnel	13
	PhD Students	46
	TOTAL non-permanent staff	98
	TOTAL unit	202
	Full professors and similar positions	39	39
	Assistant professors and similar positions	26	32
	Full time research directors (Directeurs de recherche) and similar positions	7	7
	Full time research associates (Chargés de recherche) and similar positions	6	6
	Other scientists ("Conservateurs, cadres scientifiques des EPIC, fondations, industries, etc.")	0	0
	High school teachers	0	0


President Michel Cosnard

Jean-Marc Nuzillard

Philippe Mr

Savarin

Jean-Marc Mr

Nuzillard

Luigi Mr

Ambrosio

Christophe Mr

Chassenieux

Ms Bénédicte Elena

Mr Georges

Jean-Pierre Mr

Astruc

Bruno Mr

INC Bujoli

The president of Hcéres "countersigns the evaluation reports set up by the experts committees and signed by their chairman." (Article 8, paragraph 5); 2 The evaluation reports "are signed by the chairman of the experts committee". (Article 11, paragraph 2).

INTRODUCTION HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE UNIT

The CSPBAT (Chimie, Structures et Propriétés des Biomatériaux et des Agents Thérapeutiques) laboratory was created in 2009. It is located on two sites: at Galilee Institute, university Paris 13 in Villetaneuse and at the medical and biological Faculty of Paris 13 university in Bobigny.

MANAGEMENT TEAM

The CSPBAT laboratory is presently headed by Mr Philippe SAVARIN.

HCERES NOMENCLATURE

ST4: chemistry.

SCIENTIFIC DOMAIN

The main goal of the CSPBAT laboratory is to develop expertise in chemistry, physics, and biology related to health engineering. Its main topics are the synthesis of biomaterials and study of biological responses, the synthesis of therapeutic agents, the engineering of tissues and proteomics, and the structural studies of biomolecules and the spectroscopic characterization of their interactions.

UNIT WORKFORCE

GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF THE UNIT

A unit named "Laboratory of Chemistry, Structures and Properties of Biomaterials and Therapeutic Agents", CSPBAT in short, is proposed in the continuity of an existing unit identically named and whose director is unchanged. The unit federates four teams on two sites around research topics related to Human health. The quality of the scientific production has been considered as ranging from good to excellent, thus reflecting some heterogeneity inherited from the recent and less recent history of the teams. The teams were incited to pursue their efforts toward the excellence level of their publications, to involve the young researchers more deeply in the scientific life, firstly by creating the opportunities for obtaining their HDR degree and secondly by associating them to the visibility of their team in scientific meetings and their participation to valorisation actions. The recruitment of full-time researchers has also been put forward as a necessity. The project of the unit extends the existing activities and offers new perspectives, supported by appropriate human resources and equipment for physico-chemical analysis. Even though collaborative work between teams is attested by common publications, the unit is encouraged to increase their proportion and to propose budget tools in order to facilitate common actions.

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Evaluation of clusters of higher education and research institutions Evaluation of higher education and research institutions Evaluation of research Evaluation of doctoral schools Evaluation of programmes International evaluation and accreditation

Unit workforce Number 30/06/2017 Number 01/01/2019 Permanent staff

	Full professors and similar positions Assistant professors and similar positions Full time research directors (Directeurs de recherche) and similar positions Full time research associates (Chargés de recherche) and similar positions Other scientists ("Conservateurs, cadres scientifiques des EPIC, fondations, industries, etc.") High school teachers Supporting personnel (ITAs, BIATSSs and others, notably of EPICs) TOTAL permanent staff Non-permanent staff Non-permanent professors and associate professors, including Non-permanent supporting personnel PhD Students TOTAL non-permanent staff emeritus Non-permanent full time scientists, including emeritus, post-docs TOTAL unit	7 13 0 2 0 0 8 30 1 3 15 22 52	7 14 0 2 0 0 6 29

and collegial reviewing by the committee.


President Michel Cosnard

Chairman Niel Hens

Mr William

Ms Laura Temime

Mr Niel

Ms Anne-Claude Cremieux

Ms Isabelle Niedhammer

Philippe Mr

Vanhems

Jean-François Mr

Cnam Deü

Clotilde Ms

Cnam Ferroud

Thierry Mr

CNAM Horsin

Keywords:

The president of HCERES "countersigns the evaluation reports set up by the experts committees and signed by their chairman." (Article 8, paragraph 5); 2 The evaluation reports "are signed by the chairman of the expert committee".

INTRODUCTION HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE UNIT

Following an evaluation by AERES in January 2010, a unit entitled "Modélisation et Surveillance des Risques pour la Sécurité Sanitaire" (MSRSS) was created in January 2011 at the "Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers" (CNAM, Paris, France). The unit was then positively re-evaluated in December 2012 by AERES. Given a turnover in staff and following the recommendations made during the re-evaluation, the unit renewed itself in January 2014 as "Modélisation, Épidémiologie et Surveillance des Risques Sanitaires" (MESuRS).

MANAGEMENT TEAM

GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF THE UNIT

Given a turnover in staff and following the recommendations made during the positive re-evaluation in 2012 by AERES, the unit renewed itself in January 2014 and is now entitled "Modélisation, Épidémiologie et Surveillance des Risques Sanitaires" (MESuRS). The research within MESuRS focuses on two main themes with cross fertilisation between them: infectious risks and occupational risks. The research in infectious risks is well focused on nosocomial infections and linked to e.g. the Epidemiology of Emerging Disease research unit from the Pasteur Institute by the recently created PACRI (Pasteur Cnam Risques Infectieux) collaboration. The research in occupational risks is innovative and closely linked to the private sector with, among others, a bidirectional knowledge transfer through e.g. the chair "Entreprises et Santé" and teaching to work students; i.e. lifelong learning. The MESuRS unit is a young and dynamic team which uses modern statistical and mathematical methodology resulting in very good quality research and growing number of projects and research income over the past few years. Albeit that the unit has taken up all recommendations as formulated in the last evaluation report (increasing autonomous research, strengthening expertise in epidemiology, establishing new links to the private sector for the occupational risk theme), the disproportionally high teaching load within this small team with 4 tenured professors and/or associate professors needs to be evaluated and monitored very carefully to ensure that the unit's scientific output and activities remain of excellent quality.

The evaluation reports of Hceres are available online : www.hceres.com

Evaluation of clusters of higher education and research institutions Evaluation of higher education and research institutions Evaluation of research Evaluation of doctoral schools Evaluation of programmes Evaluation abroad


President Michel Cosnard

Ms Joëlle Amedee

Mr Hervé Petite

Damien Mr

Loeuille

Mr Frédéric Mallein-Gerin

Lbti Lyon

Matthieu Mr

Refregiers

Jean-Paul Mr

Lallès

Franck Mr

Lethimonnier

Yves Mr

Remond

INTRODUCTION HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE UNIT

This unit was founded in 1977 as "Laboratory of Orthopaedic Research" (LOR), affiliated to CNRS. Since 1998, the LOR merged with three other laboratories, involved in experimental radiology (a part of Paris Diderot University), Biomaterials and polymers (a part of Paris 13 University) and a laboratory of biomechanics (a part of Paris 12 University). This unit was then restructured first in 2008 and then in 2012 by the CNRS-SPI, as the "Laboratory for Osteo-Articular Bioengineering and Bioimaging" (B2OA). In 2012, this unit was affiliated to the "École Nationale Vétérinaire de Maisons-Alfort", thanks to the hiring of two veterinary doctors in the unit. The unit is localised in the UFR of Medicine of Paris Diderot University.

MANAGEMENT TEAM

Since 2012, Mr Hervé PETITE is the director and Mr Didier HANNOUCHE was deputy director from 2012 to 2015. Mr Rémi NIZARD was elected as deputy director in 2015.

HCERES NOMENCLATURE

SVE5-1; SVE5-3.

SCIENTIFIC DOMAIN

This unit is organized in three main themes. The first theme focuses on bone tissue engineering, the understanding of the parameters affecting mesenchymal stem functions in a micro-environment, the influence on the diabetic environment on bone healing. The second theme is dedicated to the improvement of the bone -implant interfaces, based on the clinical evaluation of joint prosthesis understanding of the peri-prosthetic implant. The third theme focuses on the multi-scale imaging of osteoarticular tissue, including mainly X-ray bioimaging methods for the diagnosis of osteoarthritis and fracture prediction.

UNIT WORKFORCE

Unit workforce Number 30/06/2017 Number 01/01/2019 Permanent staff

	Full professors and similar positions	0	9
	Assistant professors and similar positions	7	6
	Full time research directors (Directeurs de recherche) and similar positions	1	1
	Full time research associates (Chargés de recherche) and similar positions	4	4
	Other scientists ("Conservateurs, cadres scientifiques des EPIC, fondations, industries, etc.")	1	5
	High school teachers	0	0
	Supporting personnel (ITAs, BIATSSs and others, notably of EPICs)	4	4

signed by their chairman." (Article 8, paragraph 5); 2 The evaluation reports "are signed by the chairman of the expert committee". (Article 11, paragraph 2). expert committee, the composition of which is specified below. The assessments contained herein are the expression of an independent and collegial reviewing by the committee.

TOTAL permanent staff 26 29

Non-permanent staff Non-permanent professors and associate professors, including emeritus 0

Non-permanent full time scientists, including emeritus, post-docs 3

Non-permanent supporting personnel 1

PhD Students 4

TOTAL non-permanent staff 7

TOTAL unit 33

GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF THE UNIT

During the evaluated period, the B2OA has developed a high-level research work covering a very broad and translational spectrum in the field of osteoarticular and bone tissue engineering. The committee can distinguish several fields of activity including fundamental aspects on stem cell biology, analysis of implant interfaces and osteolysis, development of innovative scaffold for maintaining in vivo cell survival and functions, high resolution X-ray bioimaging multiscale methods for bone tissue analysis, diagnosis and prediction of osteoarticular pathologies. The unit, mainly composed of biologists and clinicians, develops a highly innovative plurisidisciplinary and translational research, conducted with a strong commitment of the clinicians of the unit. This pluridisciplinary research is obviously a very strong asset of the unit, which proves to be an excellent research-training environment for the many doctoral students and post-docs of the unit.

During the contract, the Unit has improved both quality and quantity of the publications as well as the patent production.

The national grant applications were exceptionally successful, while other financial supports were obtained from private institutions, foundations or companies. However, the integration of the Unit in European Research programs remains limited; it should be improved in the future through the collaborative network set up with European groups.

The evaluation reports of Hceres are available online : www.hceres.com

Evaluation of clusters of higher education and research institutions Evaluation of higher education and research institutions Evaluation of research Evaluation of doctoral schools Evaluation of programmes International evaluation and accreditation


President Michel Cosnard

Chairman Jean Michel Dayer

This report is the sole result of the unit's evaluation by the expert committee, the composition of which is specified below. The assessments contained herein are the expression of an independent and collegial reviewing by the committee.

UNIT PRESENTATION

Unit name:

Pathophysiology, Targets and Therapies of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Unit acronym: Li2P

Requested label: UMR U

Application type: Renewal

Current number: UMR U1125

MANAGEMENT TEAM

The research unit is headed by Mr Marie-Christophe Boissier.

HCERES NOMENCLATURE

SVE5: Physiologie, Physiopathologie, Cardiologie, Pharmacologie, Endocrinologie, Cancer, Technologies Médicales.

SCIENTIFIC DOMAIN

The team is focused on Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), studying innate and adaptive immune cells and cytokine involvement. Its research is mostly pre-clinical, with an investment in appropriate murine models for testing new therapeutic principles.

UNIT WORKFORCE

Unit workforce

GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF THE UNIT

The unit has successfully translated the proof of concept studies in animal models to clinical trials with very high quality. In addition, other original approaches on new cytokines have been studied.

The scientific production is very good and the unit's reputation excellent. The unit has been highly active in communication of research by informing the public to general topics. The interaction with the nonacademic world and the industry is excellent to outstanding. The involvement in training through research in a translational approach to clinic is one of the most important features of the unit and the quality is very high with excellent implication in Master programs. Only training in complementary skills such as learning to write manuscripts and grants is limited. The organization is excellent as well as the interaction with the clinical staff. However, teaching and clinical duties are important in the unit, and the time allocated to research by some clinical staff members appears somewhat limited. The management is transparent and consensual with an outstanding collaboration with the Institutions. University Paris 13 and hospital Institution are highly supportive. The research, teaching and clinical rheumatology has been a major implementation at the UP13 and Hospital.

The evaluation reports of Hceres are available online : www.hceres.com

Evaluation of clusters of higher education and research institutions Evaluation of higher education and research institutions Evaluation of research Evaluation of doctoral schools Evaluation of programmes International evaluation and accreditation

INTRODUCTION

  HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE UNITRheumatology research was introduced at the Paris 13 University (UP13) in Bobigny in 1991 within a UPRES (University research unit). From 1997 to 2004, the "Groupe de Recherche in immunopathologie et immuno-intervention" (Immunopathology and Immunointervention Research Group, UPRES 2361 then 3408), focused on "Rheumatoid arthritis" (RA) among its axes of investigation. The group obtained the Associated Training seal of approval from the Claude Bernard Association(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004) and was subsequently granted an Inserm team status as "Contrat de Recherche Externe" (CRE), then as ERI18 "Physiopathologie et Biothérapies de la Polyarthrite Rhumatoïde" (Pathophysiology and Biotherapies of RheumatoidArthritis, 2006Arthritis, -2008)), and Inserm U1125 in 2014. This new status enabled further scientific development within UP13; the focus on this translational research aimed chiefly at rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The unit is located on the campus of Bobigny of the UP13, within the building of the UFR de Santé, médecine et biologie humaine (SMBH), Northeast of Paris.

  scientists ("Conservateurs, cadres scientifiques des EPIC, fondations, industries, etc."

HCERES scientific officer: Ms Anne CAIGNARD Representatives of supervising institutions and bodies:

	Head of the unit (2017-2018):	Mr Marie-Christophe BOISSIER
	Project leader (2019-2023):	Mr Marie-Christophe BOISSIER
	Number of team:	1
	COMMITTEE MEMBERS
	Chair:	Mr Jean Michel DAYER, University of Geneva, Switzerland
	Experts:	Ms Florence APPARAILLY, Inserm Montpellier (representative of Inserm CSS)
		Mr Maxime BREBAN, APHP Boulogne-Billancourt (representative of CNU)
		Ms Sophie DUCHEZ, Université Paris Diderot (supporting personnel)
		Mr Diego KYBURZ, University of Basel, Switzerland
		Mr Rik LORIES, KU Leuven, Belguim
		Ms Camille CHAUDONNERET, Inserm
		Mr Didier FRANDJI GROUPE, CHU
		Ms Chantal LASSERRE, Inserm
		Ms Anne PELLE, Université Paris 13


Grading

Once the visits for the 2012-2013 evaluation campaign had been completed, the chairpersons of the expert committees, who met per disciplinary group, proceeded to attribute a score to the research units in their group (and, when necessary, for these units' in-house teams). This score (A+, A, B, C) concerned each of the six criteria defined by the AERES. NN (not-scored) attached to a criteria indicate that this one was not applicable to the particular case of this research unit or this team.

Criterion 1 -C1 : Scientific outputs and quality ; Criterion 2 -C2 : Academic reputation and appeal ; Criterion 3 -C3 : Interactions with the social, economic and cultural environment ; Criterion 4 -C4 : Organisation and life of the institution (or of the team) ; Criterion 5 -C5 : Involvement in training through research ; Criterion 6 -C6 : Strategy and five-year plan.

With respect to this score, the research unit concerned by this report received the following grades:

 Grading table of the unit: Physiopathology, Targets and Therapies of Rheumatoid Arthritis

C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 A A A A+ A+ A+ 1  Introduction
History and geographical location of the unit

The "Laboratoire de recherche en immunologie et immunopathologie" or Li2P was created in 1996 on the Bobigny campus by its current leader, Mr Marie-Christophe BOISSIER, after he was appointed as a Full Professor of Rheumatology at University of Paris 13 and as the Adjunct Head of Rheumatology at nearby Hôpital Avicenne.

From the start, Li2P was dedicated to the study of rheumatoid arthritis, with particular emphasis on mouse models, a field in which Mr Marie-Christophe BOISSIER had a special expertise, having trained for his PhD with a renowned researcher in the field of collagen induced arthritis.

Management team

Mr Marie-Christophe BOISSIER leads the laboratory with the help of two co directors. 2  Assessment of the unit

AERES nomenclature

SVE1_LS4

Unit workforce

Strengths and opportunities

This small group is led by a Physician Scientist who also heads the Rheumatology Clinic at Hôpital Avicenne. Its research fields cover basic and translational research on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), both in the mouse and in humans. This includes clinical trials using a TNF-Kinoïd, a compound made by coupling human TNF with Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH) in RA. The group collaborates with NEOVACS, a pharmaceutical company that produces Kinoïds and helps organizing clinical trials.

The laboratory enjoys very strong support from the University which provided lab space and five tenured positions for scientists in the last six years (one Professorship of Medicine, one Professorship at the Science-School, three Associate Professor positions). The laboratory has access to a good mouse breeding and experimentation facility on campus. The patient population served by the hospital is an important resource for clinical trials and translational research. The lab is diversifying its interests to neutrophils and continues with a strong science base.

Weaknesses and threats

The group is somewhat isolated on the Bobigny campus and would benefit from the presence of other similar groups, which would provide sufficient critical mass for cross collaborations and greater technology (e.g. expanded flow cytometry/confocal microscopy). The group lacks administrative help. Equipment is limited (e.g., no ultracentifuge). These limitations may account for the absence of postdoctoral students in the lab.

Recommendations

This relatively small group is involved in a very important human vaccination project that might change the face of TNF inhibition therapy in RA. This should be their major focus. They should be more ambitious when choosing where they publish: for instance, their 2008 article describing successful treatment of arthritis in human TNF transgenic mice by immunization with human TNF kinoïds could have been published in a major journal rather than in a good rheumatology journal.

 Detailed assessments Assessment of scientific quality and outputs

The number of published articles has been increasing from 12 to 24 in the last two years. However, this lab has yet to publish a major paper. It is a shame, as the quality of the vaccination project should allow publications in nonspecialized journals.

For example, one of their publications reports successful protection against arthritis through TNF kinoid vaccination in TNF transgenic mice. This article was published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, currently the best rheumatology Journal with an impact factor of eight. Still, this data obtained in a clean transgenic model using innovative TNF kinoid technology demonstrates that TNF vaccination protects from arthritis. This may in the future change fundamentally TNF inhibition therapeutic strategies. This article warranted publication in a major journal.

Assessment of the unit's academic reputation and appeal

The Head of the laboratory is regularly invited to give seminars at international meetings like EWRR and EULAR.

The Unit recruits good people (students and junior faculty) and was recently granted a "chair of excellence".

Assessment of the unit's interaction with the social, economic and cultural environment

This research Unit is based in a poor suburb of Paris, in one of the poorest areas in France. The unit engages well with the local population and contributes to processes that expose local youth to research: many students have been recruited from the local area.

Local integration is not limited to playing good Samaritan. Indeed, this lab has produced three patents, all of them on the treatment of RA with peptides from TNF, IL-1, VEGF, or extracts from mycobacterium tuberculosis. Finally, the lab is also involved in close interaction with the nearby rheumatology ward. The best example of this is the clinical vaccination trial currently going on in rheumatoid arthritis patients, some of whom are followed in the rheumatology clinic at Avicenne.

Assessment of the unit's organisation and life

The general atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. Students, technicians and staff are happy. Everybody feels he is respected by his colleagues and line managers, has enough independence and has appropriate credit for their work. Junior staff signs as last authors on their students' articles. PhD students are first authors. Students and staff all attend two meetings a year.

The director is a well respected and charismatic leader who gives independence and credit to his collaborators.

Assessment of the unit's involvement in training through research

The involvement of the unit in training is regarded as being highly important as assessed by the number of students: seven PhD students and two master students are currently working in the laboratory. Besides, faculty working in this lab leads two of the three Master Programs taught in Bobigny. Finally, PhD students from the lab have defended seven doctoral theses in the last five years.

Assessment of the five-year plan and strategy

The lab's main effort is now to speed up on the clinical side of its project, namely the phase 2b studies of vaccination with TNF kinoids to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This is very promising, as the gold standard for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, TNF inhibitors, are very expensive (€10000 per patient per year) and must often be discontinued because of side effects (allergy, infection).

Consequently, immunization and host antibody development against human TNF boosted by TNF kinoïds, which are both safer and less expensive, may constitute an important alternative to classical anti-TNF therapy. This project may thus end up reducing the cost of TNF inhibition therapy (€40 billion per year worldwide) and may consequently become an important disruptive technology. This development is both economically and clinically important. Such major translational innovation would be the outcome of research started and pursued in this particular laboratory, from initial idea, via experimental mouse model, to translational bedside therapy, an outstanding example of truly translational science, perhaps unique in French rheumatology.

Unit workforce Number as at 30/06/2012 Number as at 01/01/2014 2014-2018 Number of project producers N1: Permanent professors

	and similar positions	4	4	4
	N2: Permanent researchers from Institutions and similar positions	7	6	6
	N3: Other permanent staff (without research duties)	3	3	0
	N4: Other professors (Emeritus Professor, on-contract Professor, etc.)	0	0	0
	N5: Other researchers from Institutions (Emeritus Research Director, Postdoctoral students, visitors, etc.)	0	0	0
	N6: Other contractual staff (without research duties)	0	1	0
	TOTAL N1 to N6	14	14	10
	Percentage of producers		100 %

Unit workforce Number as at 30/06/2012 Number as at 01/01/2014

	Doctoral students	5
	Theses defended	7
	Postdoctoral students having spent at least 12 months in the unit*	0
	Number of Research Supervisor Qualifications (HDR) taken	0
	Qualified research supervisors (with an HDR) or similar positions	5	6

5 

 5 Statistics by field: SVE on 10/06/2013

	Grades

Critères C1 Qualité scientifique et production C2 Rayonnement et attractivité académiques C3 Relations avec l'environnement social, économique et culturel C4 Organisation et vie de l'entité C5 Implication dans la formation par la recherche C6 Stratégie et projet à cinq ans

	A+	67	62	52	73	65	60
	A	57	67	71	45	65	63
	B	12	7	4	7	6	14
	C	0	0	0	3	0	1
	Non Noté	3	3	12	11	3	1
	Percentages
	Critères	C1 Qualité scientifique et production	C2 Rayonnement et attractivité académiques	C3 Relations avec l'environnement social, économique et culturel	C4 Organisation et vie de l'entité	C5 Implication dans la formation par la recherche	C6 Stratégie et projet à cinq ans
	A+	48%	45%	37%	53%	47%	43%
	A	41%	48%	51%	32%	47%	45%
	B	9%	5%	3%	5%	4%	10%
	C	0%	0%	0%	2%	0%	1%
	Non Noté	2%	2%	9%	8%	2%	1%
	Histogram

 Supervising bodies' general comments

Committee and AERES representative then met with the lab Director from 1.30 PM to 2 PM. Finally, Committee and AERES representative met to write down the pre-report and report, from 2 PM to 4 PM.

Specific points to be mentioned:

The site visit was conducted in a collegiate and friendly manner and all scientific and administrative questions were answered in an open and honest manner. An excellent scientific dialogue between the committee and the Unit was established. One issue that was discussed and considered was whether the Unit needs additional external support and advice regarding maximizing the extent of intellectual protection (IP). Given the clinical and financial benefits that could eventually accrue should this therapeutic approach be finally adopted, this would be in the interest of all parties involved (Unit, University, collaborators and funders).