FINAL RESUME ON THE RESEARCH UNIT: Pharmaco-immunological studies (EPI) - Hcéres
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Research evaluation
FINAL RESUME ON THE RESEARCH UNIT:
Pharmaco-immunological studies (EPI)
UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE
FOLLOWING INSTITUTIONS AND
RESEARCH BODIES:
Université de La Réunion
EVALUATION CAMPAIGN 2018-2019
GROUP E
Report published on April, 10 2019
In the name of Hcéres1: In the name of the experts committee2:
Michel Cosnard, President Lesley Probert, Chairwoman of the
committee
Under the decree No.2014-1365 dated 14 November 2014,
1 The president of Hcéres "countersigns the evaluation reports set up by the experts committees and signed by
their chairman." (Article 8, paragraph 5);
2 The evaluation reports "are signed by the chairman of the experts committee". (Article 11, paragraph 2).Pharmaco-Immunological Studies, EPI, U La Reunion, Mr Philippe GASQUE
Tables in this document were filled with data provided by laboratories and supervising bodies in the unit’s application
and in the Excel files "Données du contrat en cours" and "Données du prochain contrat".
UNIT PRESENTATION
Unit name: Pharmaco-Immunological Studies
Unit acronym: EPI
Requested label: n/a
Application type: de novo creation
Current number: n/a
Head of the unit
n/a
(2018-2019):
Project leader
Mr Philippe GASQUE
(2020-2024):
Number of team: 1
EXPERTS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Chair: Ms Lesley PROBERT, University of London, United Kingdom
Experts: Mr Cyrille HOARAU, Université de Tours (representative of CNU)
Ms Nathalie DAVOUST, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon
HCÉRES REPRESENTATIVE
Mr Jean-Paul LALLÈS
REPRESENTATIVES OF SUPERVISING INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES
Mr Gilles LAJOIE, Université de la Réunion
3Pharmaco-Immunological Studies, EPI, U La Reunion, Mr Philippe GASQUE
INTRODUCTION
HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE UNIT
A new research unit will be created in 2020 named EA-EPI (Etudes pharmaco-immunologiques). The unit will
be based at the CHU Bellepierre in Saint-Denis (Réunion Island) and is in the process of moving to 500 m² well-
equipped facilities located at the same site. Part of the future research project will be held in the “Cyclotron
Réunion Océan Indien” (CYROI) biomedical research centre facilities (St Clotilde, few km from St Denis). Between
2010 and 2014 the three PIs were working together in the research unit EA-GRI (Groupe de recherche en
immunopathologie des maladies infectieuses), also headed by Mr Gasque. Since 2015 the three PI are members
of the UMR PIMIT (UMR based at CYROI), and more specifically to the team 12T (Immunopathologie infectieuse en
zone tropicale).
MANAGEMENT TEAM
The director of the new unit will be Mr Philippe Gasque.
HCÉRES NOMENCLATURE
SVE5; Physiologie, physiopathologie, cardiologie, pharmacologie, endocrinologie, cancer, technologies
médicales.
SCIENTIFIC DOMAIN
In the EPI unit there is a paradigm shift in research from infectious diseases to chronic inflammatory
diseases. Until now, the team has focused its research on two major endemic infectious diseases, which impact
the Island of Reunion, namely Chikungunya and leptospirosis. The new research will focus on the consequences
of these infections to tissue injuries and long-lasting inflammation using a multidisciplinary approach, as well as
addressing novel therapeutic avenues.
UNIT WORKFORCE
Unit workforce
E.P.I.
Number Number
Active staff
30/06/2018 01/01/2020
Full professors and similar positions 6
Assistant professors and similar positions 1
Full time research directors (Directeurs de recherche) and similar positions 0
Full time research associates (Chargés de recherche) and similar positions 0
Other scientists (“Conservateurs, cadres scientifiques des EPIC, fondations,
7
industries, etc.”)
High school teachers 0
Supporting personnel (ITAs, BIATSSs and others, notably of EPICs) 0
4Pharmaco-Immunological Studies, EPI, U La Reunion, Mr Philippe GASQUE
Permanent staff 14
Non-permanent professors and associate professors, including emeritus
Non-permanent full time scientists, including emeritus, post-docs
PhD Students
Non-permanent supporting personnel
Non-permanent staff
Total 14
GLOBAL ASSESSMENT OF THE UNIT
The thematic leaders of the new unit EA-EPI already have proven track record and are in a position to
develop previous activities into a powerful multidisciplinary translational research activity to investigate
mechanisms of disease pathogenesis that are of immediate socioeconomic relevance to the island of Reunion.
The EPI research project is based on a strong collaborative network involving MDs (Assistant-Professors, Professors
and clinical medical assistants) and junior medical trainees (internes) and is supported by the availability of
unique patient cohorts. The thematic leaders are internationally recognised for their work on two major infectious
diseases, Chikungunya and leptospirosis. Until now, main activities were establishment of cohorts of patients with
inflammatory and tissue injury consequences of infection and their study, the development of models to study
molecular and cellular mechanisms of inflammation and immunity, and to address new therapeutic avenues,
particularly focusing on endemic plants. The new research plan is a natural extension of this work, will optimize on
these resources and will focus upon investigation of specific identified molecular and cellular mechanisms in
chronic inflammation and tissue injuries that can be triggered by infection. Main aims are to identify biomarkers
and develop novel therapeutics, including compounds from endemic plants, to control inflammation. If proven,
the main hypothesis proposed by the team on the pathophysiology of fibrosis induced by low-grade chronic
inflammation should open new perspectives for the treatment of diseases. The scientific strategy of the team is
based on multidisciplinary and an overall systemic approach, which are both mandatory to the success of this
original project. Concerning resources, the thematic leaders were well funded 2013-2014 as part of the EA-GRI
unit, including an FP7-funded ICRES “Integrated Chikungunya Research” project, but since 2015 lacked significant
funding and this had a negative impact on research, through inability to travel to international meetings, publish
in high level journals, purchase new equipment, consumables, hire contract staff, etc. Recently the team
attracted a significant grant to exploit work with endemic plants. New members will join the unit as part of a
strategic plan to build up the bio-clinical nature of the research and the new project should benefit in the near
future from regional support and funding. A technical position would be needed to embed methodological
expertise gained during the project, while attraction of a dedicated clinical medical assistant and new post-
doctoral fellows would be facilitated by research funding. Despite recent lack of research funding the thematic
leaders have trained a good number of PhD and Master students.
5The evaluation reports of Hceres are available online : www.hceres.com Evaluation of clusters of higher education and research institutions Evaluation of higher education and research institutions Evaluation of research Evaluation of doctoral schools Evaluation of programmes International evaluation and accreditation
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