Part of the Paris-Saclay Campus, the Paris-Sud hub brings together over 200 researchers and technicians in three biomedical imaging research units (UMR BioMaps hosted by CEA/SHFJ, UMR Baobab hosted by CEA/NeuroSpinet UMR 8165) located in Orsay, Saclay, Villejuif and Kremlin-Bicêtre. The node brings togetherleading methodological expertise in the main medical imaging modalities: MRI, nuclear imaging (PET instrumentation and radiolabeling of molecules), ultrasound and optical imaging. Expertise in digital simulation, image processing and compartmental modeling completes this know-how. The main specificity of the Paris Sud node is the strong involvement of the physics community, thanks to its location at the heart of a unique Physics/Technology ecosystem (Orsay campus / Saclay research center). Transfer to the clinic focuses mainly on brain diseases (neurology, psychiatry) and oncology, in conjunction with university hospitals in the south of Paris.
The node offers an exceptional environment of imaging platforms featuring advanced techniques in nuclear imaging (PET-MRI, high-resolution brain PET), MRI (world’s only 17T preclinical and forthcoming 11.7T clinical systems), ultrasound imaging (ultrafast ultrasound) and optical imaging (biphotonics), complemented by MEG and EEG.
Core imaging expertise and know-how
The node’s expertise covers :
- Ultra-high-field MRI, in particular the development of an in vivo ultra-high-field MRI system for mapping cognitive functions at several scales (microscopic, mesoscopic and macroscopic);
- The development of radiopharmaceuticals for PET;
- Signal and image processing, with digital simulation, tomographic reconstruction, multi-modality image processing and statistical analysis. This area involves most of the imaging laboratories associated with Université Paris Saclay;
- a multidisciplinary environment combining physics, mathematics and engineering, conducive to the development of tomorrow’s medicine, with enhanced sensitivity and specificity, and easier access to patients;
- population-based studies, conducted in particular as part of the CATI program (neuroimaging by MRI and PET), integrated into the constitution of a large cohort of subjects recruited on the basis of cognitive complaint criteria, and also as part of the European “Human Brain Project” program;
- Intraoperative anatomopathological analysis based on two-photon microscopy.
Preclinical and clinical imaging platforms / responsible :
- Molecular and multi-modal imaging: Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot SHFJ – Vincent Lebon
- Preclinical ultrasound imaging: Gustave Roussy – Nathalie Lassau
- Preclinical optical imaging: Gustave Roussy – Corinne Laplace-Builhé
- Two-photon imaging : IJCLab, pole physique-Santé- Darine Abi Haidar
Hub laboratories:
- UMR BioMaps, UMR9012
- IJCLab, Health Physics Center