USP’s Ribeirão Preto campus gains another center of excellence in biomedical research with the creation of the International Research Laboratory (IRL) in Health. The first of its kind in the field of immunology outside France, the laboratory is the result of an unprecedented partnership between the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto (FMRP) of USP and the National Center for Scientific Research of France (CNRS, in French).
USP and CNRS already maintain a unit of the Center at the Capital-Butantã campus in São Paulo to promote collaboration between the two institutions in research and high-quality academic training, involving both institutional governance and the scientific community.
In Ribeirão Preto, the IRL in Health is dedicated to research into immunology, inflammation, allergies, and pain, strategic areas for scientific and technological innovation. It is the first international laboratory of CNRS dedicated to these themes outside France, an initiative that consolidates a 15-year collaboration between the institutions and symbolizes a milestone in scientific collaboration between Brazil and France.
Activities began in January, but the official inauguration took place on November 29. The laboratory reinforces the internationalization of FMRP and expands exchange opportunities between Brazilian and French researchers and students. Professor José Carlos Farias Alves-Filho, from the Department of Pharmacology at FMRP, emphasized that the IRL will focus on studying inflammatory diseases of infectious, autoimmune, and metabolic origin, as well as cancer immunology. “Our goal is to investigate different aspects of the pathophysiology of these inflammatory diseases,” he explained.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by authorities, researchers, and representatives from Brazil and France. Nicolas Riteau from CNRS highlighted the strategic importance of the laboratory: “Brazil is our main partner in South America, and USP is the Brazilian university most connected to CNRS. This laboratory reflects the union of talents and ideas to face global challenges”.
Sylvie Guerder, deputy scientific dean of Biology at CNRS, reinforced the relevance of Brazil in scientific cooperation: “This partnership is an example of how international cooperation can broaden the horizons of science. Brazil, with its diversity and scientific capacity, has been a pillar for advancing our research in immunology,” she stated.
André le Bivic, dean of Biology at CNRS, emphasized: “We are creating a solid base that will allow the integration of the laboratory with other CNRS initiatives, increasing the impact of our studies and expanding our collaborations.”
Initial Impacts
The event also featured speeches celebrating the lab’s initial impact and future prospects. Marion Magnan, scientific attaché at the French Consulate in São Paulo, highlighted the historical importance of the partnership: “This laboratory is not just a physical space, but a symbol of the long history of cooperation between our countries. It reflects the joint effort to promote scientific advances that benefit society as a whole”. Marion also emphasized the impact on young researchers: “This laboratory offers a safe and promising space for the new generations of scientists, encouraging creativity and innovation”.
Marco Antonio Zago, president of the São Paulo Research Foundation (Fapesp), reiterated the foundation’s commitment to financing long-term scientific initiatives. “São Paulo leads scientific production and innovation in Brazil, and projects like this reinforce our position as a strategic research hub. The partnership with CNRS is an example of what we can achieve by joining forces”, he said. The first results are already promising: a doctoral defense linked to the IRL took place this year, along with academic exchange programs and scientific workshops that further brought the research teams closer. Since the partnership began, more than 50 scientific articles have been published.
Perspectives
With a three-story building covering 5,000 square meters, the IRL will accommodate up to 25 researchers and feature state-of-the-art laboratories and shared spaces promoting interdisciplinarity. The FMRP dean Jorge Elias Junior commented on the impact of the new facility: “We are expanding our research capacity with modern infrastructure aimed at interdisciplinarity. This laboratory reinforces our commitment to high-quality science and training new generations of scientists”.
The initial agreement for the IRL’s operation lasts five years, to establish it as a global reference by 2028. Nicolas Riteau highlighted expansion plans: “We are committed to expanding our initiatives, bringing new postdoctoral fellows and PhD students, and strengthening connections with other research networks. Our ambition is to make this laboratory a global center of excellence”. Elias Junior concluded: “We are only at the beginning of a new stage, but confident that this partnership will bring significant benefits to health and the training of scientists in Brazil and France.”
*Eduardo Nazaré – FMRP Press Office under the supervision of Rose Talamone
English version: Nexus Traduções
