Presentation

The Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience (IINS) is a research center that opened its doors on January 1st, 2011. Currently, IINS is home to about 180 scientists. The director is Laurent Groc. IINS undergoes pluridisciplinary research by associating chemists, biologists, biophysicists and neurobiologists. They particularly study synaptic transmission, i.e. the communication between brain cells and the impact of this communication on neuronal networks and behavior. IINS scientists put a strong emphasis on developments of new investigation technologies combined with use of advanced tools. This allows the forefront research of subcellular nanoscopic protein organization, synapse dynamic and physiology of neuronal systems in normal or pathological behavioral situations. The IINS research methodologies are imaging, chemistry, cellular biology and the physiology of synapses and neuronal networks. The laboratory is leader in the field of neuronal molecules dynamics. Thanks to IINS studies, synaptic function and receptors are being better understood.

Objectives

The core mission of IINS is to contribute to the basic understanding of the central nervous system function. With this endeavor in mind, we set as an associated objective to develop innovative approaches along our scientific projects and disseminate these through technology transfer. We also aim to contribute, whenever possible, to identify new therapeutic targets and develop new therapeutic strategies for neurological and psychiatric disorders. Currently studied pathologies include Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases, epilepsy, intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders. Altogether, we represent a unique assembly of expertise, from structural biology (Team Elegheert) to integrated physiology and behavior (Teams Carta, Gambino, Roux, Takahashi), through cell biology and chemical biology (Teams Choquet, Giannone, Groc, Letellier, Perrais), and imaging (Teams Sibarita, Studer), with relatively focused scientific interests around excitatory neurotransmission in the brain. This unique combination of joint scientific interests with strong diversity of approaches allows for IINS to be a highly integrated and collaborative environment.

IINS unites researchers with diverse areas of expertise, and creates a highly synergistic environment to promote:

  • The development of innovative methods and investigation tools, focusing on those based on molecular and structural biology, physiology, optics, chemistry, physics and computer science.
  • The application of these tools to push the boundaries of the study of molecular and physiological events underlying the activity of the brain. This includes studying the morpho-dynamic and functional properties of the nervous system to understand the complexity of its molecular assemblies and functions at an integrated level.

Scientific objectives

  • Identify, study and develop tools to control the biochemical, structural and dynamic properties of molecular complexes involved in synapses, cell contacts or adhesion sites at a nanometric scale.
  • Understand the basic mechanisms underlying the establishment and function of synaptic transmission in the nervous system in normal and pathological conditions.
  • Integrate this knowledge to understand brain adaptive functions at the network and behavioral level.
  • Develop new investigation methods (structural and chemical biology, nano-imaging, in vivo imaging and physiology, bio-sensors).
  • Render these technological advances available to the community through core facilities and training activities and industrial technology transfer.
  • Train next generation of scientists.

Parents institutions

The parent institutions of IINS (UMR 5297) are the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and the University of Bordeaux.

Collaborations and partnerships

IINS is part of the Bordeaux Neurocampus department of Bordeaux University that is home to around 700 neuroscientists.

IINS teams have developed an extensive network of collaborations with the various centers, thanks in part to the incentive funding proposed by the Labex BRAIN for transversal projects.

BRAIN (Bordeaux Region Aquitaine Initiative for Neuroscience) has been an excellence cluster funded for 10 years (21.7 M€ – 2011-2020) that gathered all teams of Bordeaux Neurocampus around specific projects. It has been directed by Daniel Choquet. BRAIN has put a strong emphasis of supporting core facilities, supporting transversal scientific projects through competitive calls, supporting training through helping the creation of the Bordeaux School of Neuroscience and providing fellowships for PhD extensions.

Bordeaux Neurocampus and BRAIN joined forces to subsidize organization of workshops, symposiums and international meetings. Every year, over five international meetings are organized by the Bordeaux Neuroscience community.

BRAIN ends December 31st 2020, extended to June 2021 due to the COVID-19 crisis. Bordeaux Neurocampus teams applied for a renewal in a large center project BRAIN_2030 headed by Daniel Choquet.

In addition, Bordeaux Neurocampus is proud to be home to the Bordeaux School of Neuroscience (chaired by David Perrais), a unique neuroscience training center in Europe providing advanced “hands-on” courses open to the international community. It is the host of prestigious Cajal Advanced Training Courses and a partner of the Bordeaux Neurocampus Graduate Program.

Organization