CEA Paris-Saclay - MIRCen and SHFJ

The Molecular Imaging Research Centre (MIRCen) and the Frédéric Joliot Hospital Service (SHFJ) are preclinical research centres created by CEA Paris-Saclay. Focused on neuroimaging, they host high-level instrumental platforms and research teams with complementary expertise. The research carried out in these two centres enables the development of technologies and methodologies for in vivo brain imaging. Their transfer to the clinic facilitates the provision of new tools to improve diagnosis and/or the evaluation of innovative therapies.

Housed on nearly 20,000m2 of platforms, MIRCen and the SHFJ bring together nearly 300 researchers, clinicians, doctors, engineers, technicians, doctoral and post-doctoral students from CEA Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CNRS, and AP-HP.

Molecular Imaging Research Center (MIRCen)

MIRCen is a preclinical research centre located at the CEA in Fontenay aux Roses, which brings together around one hundred researchers, engineers, technicians, clinicians and students from the CEA, Inserm and CNRS.
MIRCen is dedicated to the development of relevant animal models of human pathologies as well as to preclinical trials of gene, cell and drug therapy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (mainly Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases), relying on the expertise of the Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory UMR 9199, CEA/CNRS/University of Paris Saclay.
More details : François Jacob Institute of Biology - Plateforms & Facilities (cea.fr)
In addition, MIRCen provides 16 platforms and technical facilities, including PET and MRI imaging, NMR spectroscopy, neurosurgery rooms, equipment dedicated to behavioural studies, as well as biochemistry and molecular biology laboratories. Most of these technical facilities and platforms operate at microbiological safety levels L2 and L3. This state-of-the-art equipment is used to evaluate neurodegeneration in animal models (and in the longer term in patients) and to test innovative therapeutic strategies.
More details : François Jacob Institute of Biology - Plateforms & Services (cea.fr)
MIRCen thus has the essential platforms and expertise to undertake a translational research approach aimed at proposing, characterising and measuring in animals (rodents, non-human primates) and then in humans, the therapeutic efficacy of different approaches to cell, gene and/or drug therapies as well as new interventional surgical treatments.
Recently and within the framework of an agreement between MIRCen and the Vision Institute (IDV), a preclinical ophthalmology platform dedicated to non-human primates has been set up and made available for collaborative studies. More details : https://www.institut-vision.org/en/8-platforms-institute/252-reclinic-ophth.html

Frédéric Joliot Hospital Service (SHFJ)

The SHFJ is a preclinical and clinical research centre specialising in molecular and functional imaging, associated with a clinical nuclear medicine service. A pioneer in Europe in the field of molecular imaging by PET (PET-MRI clinical hybrid imager), in particular for the imaging of neurotransmission and the quantification of membrane receptors, it is located within the Orsay Hospital until its forthcoming move to the Saclay plateau.

The SHFJ has a medical service and a research and development mission, mainly in the following three disciplines: oncology, neurology and pharmacology. The aim of this research is to create new imaging tools to improve diagnosis and the evaluation of innovative therapies.

More information on the SHFJ : Institute of Life Sciences Frédéric Joliot - Frédéric Joliot Hospital Service (cea.fr)