https://joliot.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2020/Magnetic-sensors-ultra-sensitive-biochips.aspx Website of the Frédéric-Joliot Institute of Life Sciences which includes 4 departments: I2BC, DMTS, NeuroSpin and Service hospitalier Frédéric Joliot (SHFJ). The teams are mainly located at the CEA Paris-Saclay center and at the Orsay hospital. en-US https://www.cea.fr/Style%20Library/Themes/drf/instituts/images/logo-cea-joliot-2023.png https://joliot.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2026/Biotherapies-immunogenicity-associated-with-nanobodies.aspx Nanobodies, promising biotherapeutic agents, may trigger undesirable immune reactions. A team from SIMoS demonstrates, using a sensitive assay on human T lymphocytes, that this risk exists for certain nanobodies and can be reduced through sequence humanization. These findings highlight the importance of assessing immunogenicity alongside therapeutic efficacy. Biotechnology ; Diagnosis and innovative treatment SIMOPRO Scientific result Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2026/Identification-new-anti-ricin-monoclonal-antibodies.aspx DMTS teams have characterised 17 monoclonal antibody-candidates targeting ricin using two original biophysical approaches. The identification of ricin residues involved in functional antibody recognition paves the way for the development of powerful monoclonal therapeutic antibodies against this natural toxin, which is a bioterrorism agent. Biodetection ; CBRN-E threats SIMOPRO Scientific result Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2025/Cyanine-5-huwentoxin-IV-imaging-agent-lung-cancer.aspx A team from SIMoS (DMTS) has demonstrated the ability of a peptide derived from a spider venom toxin to detect overexpressed sodium channels in a metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line. Biotechnology ; Biomarkers ; Cell and molecular imaging ; Cancer SIMOPRO Scientific result Mon, 10 Nov 2025 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2025/GMR-sensor-biochip-for-point-of-care-diagnostics.aspx Researchers from IRAMIS and SPI (DMTS) evaluated their GMR-sensor biochip prototype for its ability to detect cancer cells in a complex medium. This approach, which combines sensor physics with medical biology, aims to develop simpler and portable diagnostic tools that meet the WHO criteria for point-of-care testing. Physics ; Biodetection SPI Scientific result ; Article Tue, 30 Sep 2025 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2025/Llama-antibodies-therapeutic-avenues-against-schizophrenia.aspx Researchers from SIMoS (DMTS) contributed to the characterization of a nanobody (VHH) designed by scientists at the Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle in Montpellier. They performed tritium labeling and biodistribution tracking of this VHH, which can specifically activate a glutamate receptor involved in schizophrenia. This work was published in Nature. Biotechnology SIMOPRO Scientific result ; Article preclinical model;animal models; Wed, 10 Sep 2025 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2025/Monoclonal-antibodies-production-targeted-cell-fusion.aspx Researchers at SPI (DMTS) have developed a high-yield strategy for producing monoclonal antibodies by preselecting the antibody-producing cells most likely to form viable hybridomas. This represents a step towards a wider use of this technology which should help to further reduce the number of animals to be immunised. Biotechnology SPI Scientific result ; Article animal models; Fri, 05 Sep 2025 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2025/Optimized-toxin-MQ232-snake-venom-renal-diseases.aspx Researchers at SIMoS, SPI (DMTS) and BioMaps (SHFJ) report the development of a new molecule, MQ232, derived from mambaquaretin. As a specific antagonist of the vasopressin V2 receptor, MQ232 is a promising drug candidate for the treatment of renal pathologies. Health ＆ life sciences ; Diseases ; Biotechnology SHFJ Scientific result ; Article animal models;preclinic; Thu, 20 Mar 2025 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2025/Universal-identification-pathogenic-viruses-proteotyping.aspx Researchers at Li2D (SPI/DMTS, Marcoule) have proposed an innovative tandem mass spectrometry proteotyping method for the universal identification of pathogenic viruses, requiring no prior knowledge of sample composition. A step towards improved diagnosis of viral infections Virus ; Mass spectrometry ; Biodetection ; CBRN-E threats SPI Scientific result ; Article Wed, 29 Jan 2025 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2024/Muscle-biomechanics-ultrasound-elastography.aspx A team from BioMaps (SHFJ) measures for the first time the in vivo local mechanical properties at play in a muscle (elasticity, anisotropy, non-linearity) using a non-invasive method, ultrasonic shear wave elastography. The originality of the approach lies in its ability to perform such measurements in a so complex tissue. Medical imaging ; Physics SHFJ Scientific result Fri, 14 Jun 2024 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2024/Functionalization-B-subunit-Shigatoxin-vaccine-tool.aspx Researchers at SIMoS (DMTS) describe the synthesis, engineering and evaluation of the properties of the B subunit of bacterial Shiga toxin (STxB), administered mucosally, as a vaccine tool. Their results confirm the value of using a synthetic STxB in an anti-tumor and anti-infectious vaccination strategy. Biotechnology ; Vaccine SIMOPRO Scientific result préclinique; Fri, 26 Jan 2024 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2023/Click-Chemistry-optimized-drug-delivery-nanomicelles.aspx Researchers at SCBM have used a click-and-release chemistry approach to mass-release an anti-cancer drug into cells from cleavable nanomicelles, thanks to a bioorthogonal activation process. A step towards the development of new nanomedicines Chemistry ; Biotechnology SCBM Scientific result Fri, 10 Nov 2023 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2023/Model-cyanobacterium-production-high-value-terpenes.aspx Through two publications, an I2BC team demonstrates the high biotechnological potential of the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803 for the photosynthetic production of high value-added organic compounds, the terpenes. Photosynthesis ; Microalgae ; Biotechnology SB2SM Scientific result Fri, 10 Feb 2023 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2022/Discovery-natural-peptide-black-mamba-venom.aspx ​A team from SIMoS (DMTS) identifies and characterizes a toxin isolated from black mamba venom, whose specific anticholinergic properties at the type 2 acetylcholine receptor, a regulator of arterial tone, position it as a potential drug candidate for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Health ＆ life sciences ; Biotechnology SIMOPRO Scientific result ; Article Mon, 21 Nov 2022 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2022/Engineering-antibodies-accommodate-antigenic-drift-SARS-CoV-1-2.aspx Researchers from SIMoS and SPI (DMTS) demonstrate that molecular engineering of llama antibodies, capable of neutralizing SARS-CoV-1, allows to obtain optimized antibodies with very high affinities for SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, the culprits of the Covid-19 epidemic. Biotechnology ; Virus SPI Scientific result Thu, 22 Sep 2022 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2022/How-to-make-biodrugs-less-immunogenic.aspx SIMoS team, in collaboration with Bicêtre Hospital, shows that certolizumab pegol, a pegylated monoclonal antibody fragment for anti-inflammatory use, is less likely to trigger an adverse immune response than the non-pegylated form. Health ＆ life sciences ; Biotechnology SIMOPRO Scientific result Mon, 20 Jun 2022 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2022/tSNR-optimization-functional-MRI.aspx A NeuroSpin team (BAOBAB) has tested a signal denoising method dedicated to very high field (7T) functional MRI. It is based on the weighted combination of images from each reception channel of the radio frequency coil, a combination that optimizes the stability of the signal over time. MRI ; Physics Neurospin Scientific result ; Article Thu, 27 Jan 2022 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Institute/2021/Deeptope-start-up-Simos.aspx Deeptope, founded in February 2021 from a technology developed at the DMTS Laboratory of Cellular Immunology and Biotechnology (LICB), is a company of therapeutic antibody engineering that provides antibody optimization and characterization services to biotech or pharmaceutical firms with the goal of increasing the quality of antibodies in a very short timeframe. Biotechnology ; Pharmacology News ; Article Mon, 29 Nov 2021 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Press/premieres-images-irm-iseult-2021.aspx September 2021, the 11.7 Tesla MRI of the Iseult project, the most powerful in the world for human imaging, has just unveiled its first images. Health ＆ life sciences ; Brain ; Physics Journalists ; general public ; Researchers ; Partners Neurospin News ; Press release ; Découvertes et avancées Brain;MRI;neuroanatomy;Iseult;supra; Thu, 07 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2021/Singlet-Fission-Plants-Carotenoids.aspx Researchers from I2BC (CEA-Joliot/CNRS/UPSay, in collaboration with the JP Bourgin Institute and the University of Vilnius, decipher for the first time the energy dissipation process called "singlet fission" in two natural flower carotenoids, a fundamental mechanism for the design of new and more efficient multi-electron photocatalysts. Solar energy ; Photosynthesis ; Quantum Physics Scientific result Mon, 30 Aug 2021 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Institute/2020/Bruno-Robert-awarded-Honoris-causa-Professor-Vilnius.aspx This appointment comes after more than 15 years of close scientific collaboration between Bruno Robert's team in CEA Paris-Saclay and the Physics Department of the University of Vilnius. Quantum Physics ; Photosynthesis News ; Article Thu, 19 Nov 2020 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2020/Double-ceramic-probe-magnetic-resonance-microscopy.aspx Researchers from the M-CUBE european consortium, together with a team from NeuroSpin, are demonstrating the possibility of imaging two samples by 17.2 T magnetic resonance microscopy (NeuroSpin imager), at a single acquisition time, using two coupled ceramic resonators (probes) that lead to a better signal-to-noise ratio compared to reference MRI probes. MRI ; Physics Scientific result ; Article Mon, 26 Oct 2020 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2020/Synthetic-biology-increase-diversity-diketopiperazines.aspx Researchers from I2BC (SBIGeM), in collaboration with teams from Sorbonne University, have characterized cyclodipeptide oxidases in vivo and shown that they are valuable tools for producing dehydrogenated 2,5-diketopiperazines, precursors of bioactive molecules of pharmaceutical interest, in Escherichia coli using synthetic biology approaches. Fundamental Research ; Health ＆ life sciences ; Biotechnology Scientific result Fri, 25 Sep 2020 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2020/SARS-CoV-2-detection-mass-spectrometry-rapidity.aspx A team from SPI in Marcoule detected by mass spectrometry, in 3 minutes and without specific reagents, signature peptides of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in clinical samples (nasopharyngeal swabs). It thus provides a proof of concept of the use of this method as a possible alternative to PCR, currently the reference method. Mass spectrometry ; Virus ; Biodetection ; Diagnosis Scientific result Thu, 06 Aug 2020 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Institute/2020/M-ONE-project-Antenna.aspx The European Commission once more places its trust on Multiwave company and its partners, Aix-Marseille Université, CEA and Université Catholique de Louvain to revolutionize ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. MRI ; Physics ; Brain News ; Europe ; Article Fri, 03 Apr 2020 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Institute/2020/Succes-workshop-EuroBioTox.aspx ​​A training seminar "on biological toxins and on site detection" on in situ detection of biological toxins for first responders and validation of forensic procedures was held at CEA Paris-Saclay from 3 to 5 March 2020. Biodetection SPI Event ; Article Tue, 31 Mar 2020 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2020/Magnetic-sensors-ultra-sensitive-biochips.aspx Researchers from IRAMIS collaborated with a team from SPI (LERI) for the development of a microfluidic biochip ("lab-on-chip") based on ultra-sensitive magnetic sensors with giant magnetoresistance (GMR sensors), capable of individually and effectively detect magnetically-labeled biological targets. Biotechnology ; Biodetection ; Physics Scientific result Wed, 08 Jan 2020 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2019/A-ferredoxin-to-fuel-metabolic-pathways.aspx Researchers at BIAM and I2BC@Saclay, in collaboration with Japanese colleagues from Okayama University and Ehime, have characterized in a cyanobacterium a minor protein that diverts part of the energy from photosynthesis to secondary metabolic pathways. This discovery is promising to exploit these metabolic pathways in a biotechnological process of bioenergy production. Biotechnology ; Bioenergy ; Photosynthesis Scientific result Mon, 14 Oct 2019 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Institute/2019/Iseult-Project-MRI-magnet-9,51T.aspx The magnet of the future MRI at 11.7 teslas of the Iseult project at NeuroSpin (CEA Paris-Saclay) reached a magnetic field of 9.51 teslas during tests carried out on Wednesday 22 May. This new level is a record since the magnet has become on this occasion the most powerful MRI magnet in the world for imaging in humans with a stored energy of 221 MJ. This successful outcome is the result of the work of the Iseult project’s team from the CEA. MRI ; Cryogenics ; Tools ＆ research instruments ; Brain ; Physics ; Technologies Researchers ; general public ; Journalists Joliot Scientific result Fri, 24 May 2019 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2019/New-ceramic-probe-magnetic-resonance-microscopy.aspx ​The Fresnel Institute, in collaboration with the University of St Petersburg and a team from NeuroSpin, has developed a new ceramic resonator (probe) suitable for 17T magnetic resonance microscopy, i.e. for spatial resolutions below 100 μm3. This probe allows the production of MRI images with a signal-to-noise ratio 2 times greater than those obtained with reference probes, in copper. MRI ; Medical imaging ; Physics Scientific result Thu, 23 May 2019 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2018/biotechnological-approach-new-bioactive-molecules.aspx ​Muriel Gondry's Research Team (I2BC@Saclay / SBIGeM), in collaboration with SIMOPRO and Biomolecules Laboratory of the Sorbonne University's one, produced 200 cyclodipeptides containing non-natural amino acids by luring and diverting the cellular machinery for the synthesis of proteins. This unprecedented approach significantly increases the diversity of these bioactive molecules. Biotechnology ; Structural biology Scientific result Mon, 05 Mar 2018 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/ARCHIVES/IBITECS_anglais/News/2015/societal_resilience_trophy_2015.aspx ​​On September 17, the jury for Societal Resilience Trophies of the French High Committee for Civil Defence (HCFDC) awarded to the team of Laurent Bellanger (CEA-IBITECS) the price of technological innovation​​​ for the development of the diagnostic test for Ebola virus disease, named Ebola eZYSCREEN®​​.​ CBRN-E threats ; Virus ; Biodetection News Thu, 17 Sep 2015 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/ARCHIVES/I2BM_anglais/News/Scientific_news/Articles/2015/Modulating-cerebral-cholesterol-new-avenue-research-treat-Alzheimer.aspx Two French research teams have recently shown in a rodent model that overexpression of an enzyme capable of eliminating excess cholesterol in the brain can act in a beneficial way on the tau component of the disease to completely correct it. Alzheimer's disease ; Gene and cell therapy ; Biotechnology MIRcen Scientific result Mon, 14 Sep 2015 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/ARCHIVES/I2BM_anglais/News/Scientific_news/Articles/2015/Bio-magnet-for-targeted-medical-imaging.aspx The CEA-IBEB has partnered with the CEA-I2BM to develop original MRI contrast agents. Nano-magnets produced by bacteria may reveal targets at the molecular level. Biotechnology ; Cell and molecular imaging ; MRI ; Diagnosis ; Nanomedicine LBC Scientific result Fri, 20 Feb 2015 11:00:00 GMT