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The François Jacob Institute of Biology brings together five departments and three services
The last two years in scientific news
Why do some breast tumours stop responding to treatment? In a study published in Drug Resistance Updates in January 2026, European researchers, including scientists from the CNRGH, showed that the acquisition of resistance to certain chemotherapies is accompanied by extensive remodelling of DNA methylation. This work paves the way for the identification of new predictive biomarkers and for strategies aimed at restoring tumour sensitivity to treatment.
This study, conducted notably by the CNRGH and teams from the University of Lorraine within the OBEPINE+ consortium, proposes a new method based on long-fragment digital RT-PCR to assess the integrity of viral RNA in wastewater. The results were published in Water Research in January 2026.
A study published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology in May 2026 and coordinated by a DRCM team reveals a key mechanism involved in telomere protection. The researchers showed that the Rap1 protein forms a physical barrier along telomeric DNA, preventing the MRX repair complex from recognizing chromosome ends as DNA breaks. This work sheds light on how cells distinguish short telomeres from functional telomeres, an essential process for maintaining genome stability.
Long considered simply as the brain’s defence cells, microglia and macrophages in fact play a far more complex role in gliomas. In a review published in Acta Neuropathologica in April 2026, experts including Marc-André Mouthon from the DRCM summarize recent advances on these cells, which can either support or restrain tumour progression. Taken together, this work paves the way for new therapeutic strategies aimed at reprogramming the tumour microenvironment to improve the care of patients with glioblastoma.
A review coordinated within the Pediatric Immunology Program (PIP) of the IDMIT Department provides an overview of the mechanisms by which maternal immunity is transferred to the newborn, as well as the impact of vaccination during pregnancy. It highlights the biological determinants, clinical benefits and limitations of this strategy for protecting infants during the first months of life. The review was published in Vaccine in February 2026.
On the occasion of World Parkinson’s Day 2026, the François Jacob Institute of Biology is pleased to invite you to a seminar by Romina Aron Badin, Director of the MIRCen Department, dedicated to research on neurodegenerative diseases.
Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse marine ecosystems and provide numerous essential services, including coastal protection, food resources, and reservoirs of bioactive molecules. However, as their decline accelerates due to climate change and other anthropogenic pressures, the microbial and molecular potential associated with reef-building corals has remained poorly documented. The authors, including teams from Genoscope, sought to systematically map this hidden diversity. Their findings were published in the journal Nature in February 2026.
Researchers from the IDMIT Department have demonstrated the role of a specific population of intestinal macrophages in controlling HIV following the interruption of antiretroviral therapy.
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CEA is a French government-funded technological research organisation in four main areas: low-carbon energies, defense and security, information technologies and health technologies. A prominent player in the European Research Area, it is involved in setting up collaborative projects with many partners around the world.