- 2016
- News in brief - 05.12.2016
Zika virus infects the human retina
Two Inserm teams involving Unit 1058, “Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic Infections” (Inserm/University of Montpellier/French Blood Transfusion Service) and Unit 1051, “Montpellier Institute of Neurosciences,” have just shown that Zika virus can infect the pigment epithelium of the human retina, and may thus be able to cause retinal damage. This study is published in Journal […]
- Press releases - 02.12.2016
Minimum effort for maximum effect
Ten days after astronaut Thomas Pesquet take-off into space on the Proxima mission, many questions remain about human adaptation to gravity.
- Press releases - 01.12.2016
A molecule to regenerate insulin-producing cells in type 1 diabetic patients
Inserm researchers led by Patrick Collombat at Unit 1091,“Institute of Biology Valrose” (Inserm/CNRS/Nice Sophia Antipolis University), show that GABA, a neurotransmitter that is sometimes used as a dietary supplement, can induce the regeneration of insulin-producing cells. This discovery, confirmed in mice and partially validated in humans, gives new hope to patients with type 1 diabetes.
This research is published in the journal Cell. - Press releases - 24.11.2016
MAAD Digital: A new website on addiction developed for and by young people
Together with the Arbre des Connaissances (Tree of Knowledge) association, MILDECA and Inserm are launching www.maad-digital.fr, a website for scientific information on addiction created by young people.
Through assistance from renowned scientists, this new website offers an array of dynamic and reliable content that is adapted to the needs of those aged 13 to 19. The articles decipher scientific information on alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug addictions using language and media that are tailored to multimedia tools used by young people. - News in brief - 22.11.2016
Smell, those neurons with a nose
Thanks to the receptors in our nose, we can identify thousands of smells. But there are still many grey areas regarding the mechanisms at work in sending information to the brain. Research conducted by Alexander Fleischmann and his colleagues at Unit 1050, “Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology” (Collège de France/CNRS/Inserm) provides a better understanding […]
- Press releases - 22.11.2016
The cause of uncombable hair syndrome identified
In 1973, the rare syndrome of uncombable hair or ‘pili trianguli et canaliculi’ was described by a Toulouse dermatologist. More than 40 years later, Michel Simon, Inserm research director his colleagues at the ‘Epidermal Differentiation and Rheumatoid Autoimmunity’ Unit [UDEAR] (Inserm/CNRS/Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier University) have identified its genetic cause.
- Press releases - 21.11.2016
Functional human intestine grown from stem cells
American researchers at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and French researchers from Inserm (joint research Unit 913 “Neuropathies of Enteric Nervous System and Digestive Diseases”, Nantes) have succeeded in generating a functional human intestine using pluripotent human stem cells. This significant breakthrough was achieved by cultivating human intestinal tissue using nerve cells. Details of their work are published online on 21 November 2016 in Nature Medicine.
- Press releases - 21.11.2016
Mitochondria are essential to memory
Numerous studies have shown that using cannabis can lead to short- and long-term memory loss. These effects on memory may be related to the presence of specific receptors on several types of brain cells (glial cells as well as neurons). Inserm researchers led by Giovanni Marsicano (Neurocentre Magendie, U1215) have shown that these effects on memory are related to the presence of these same receptors on the mitochondria, the energy centre of the cell. This is the first time that the direct involvement of mitochondria in higher brain functions, such as learning and memory, has been shown. This work is published in the journal Nature.
- Press releases - 15.11.2016
Jean-Laurent Casanova, specialist in infectious disease genetics, awarded the Inserm Grand Prix 2016
On Thursday 8 December, at Collège de France, the annual Inserm Awards ceremony will honour eight researchers and engineers whose work has contributed to the Institute’s scientific excellence. The Inserm Grand Prix 2016 will be awarded to Jean-Laurent Casanova, for his work on the human genetics of infectious diseases, in the presence of Marisol Touraine, Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Thierry Mandon, Secretary of State for Higher Education and Research, and Professor Yves Lévy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Inserm.
- Press releases - 10.11.2016
Attacks and risks of post-traumatic stress
In a traumatic event, such as the attacks on Paris on 13 November 2015, and on Nice on 14 July 2016, the risk for victims and witnesses of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is high.