Christine Clerici, President of Université de Paris, and Stewart Cole, Director General of the Institut Pasteur, have entered into a partnership to co-develop and strengthen areas of mutual interest in basic and translational research as well as in teaching. The fields of biology and emerging infectious diseases, resistance to microbial agents and vaccinology are the first objectives identified for future projects and structural programmes.

The Institut Pasteur leads biological research, particularly in the fields of infectious diseases, cell biology, immunology, developmental biology and neuroscience. Université de Parisis has significant strengths in health and biology grounded on an interdisciplinary approach that combines experimental, natural, and formal sciences, as well as the humanities and social sciences in all their diversity.

This partnership enables to build a concerted and shared scientific strategy that will be based on the strengthening and co-development of the existing themes within the two establishments, both in fundamental and translational research.

Both institutions have recognised expertise in the field of infectious diseases. While both institutions share areas of excellence such as microbiology, immunology, structural biology, chemistry, there will be mutually beneficial synergies developed in the fields of developmental biology, cell biology, neurosciences, “hard” sciences, humanities and social sciences.

The joint scientific strategy will be characterised by a thorough integration of basic research and clinical research and supported notably by Université de Paris’ university hospital facilities located in the north and center of Paris (Necker, Cochin, HEGP, Saint-Louis, Lariboisière, Bichat).

The existing collaborations between Université de Paris and the Institut Pasteur are extensive. There are currently several joint teams already in place and Université de Paris is presently the supervisor of eight Institut Pasteur units. In addition, there are already joint curricula between the two institutions. Finally, 25 per cent of the Institut Pasteur’s publications are now being co-authored with Université de Paris.

The Institut Pasteur has also become a “partner research organisation” of Université de Paris. This statute guarantees mutual respect for the institutional, scientific and budgetary autonomy of both partners.

The revised statutes of each institution have been approved by their respective boards and will be the result of decrees.