The Marseille hub is a multidisciplinary network of high-tech imaging facilities for imaging research and applications in animal and human models. Preclinical and clinical imaging benefit from close links between specialists in instrumentation, chemistry and image processing, on the one hand, and biologists and clinical researchers on the other. This research has benefited greatly from the financial support of Investissements d’avenir (Infrastructure, Equipex, AMIDEX), ANR, foundations (James S McDonnell Foundation, ARSEP, AFM, etc.) and European contracts (M-CUBE FET-Open, IMI pharma-Cog, ERC-Gaba Networks, Neuropioneer BrainScale, Human Brain Project, Envision, Entervision, Marie Curie, ENDOTOFPET).
In total, the Marseille Node brings together 200 FTEs, including 100 permanent researchers, engineers and clinicians, dedicated to the development of in vivo imaging and its applications, in part with prestigious international partners.
The network provides access to innovative equipment for
- MRI (on the IBISA MR platform of UMR 7339 CRMBM / CEMEREM and at INT),
- Nuclear imaging and X-rays (at CERIMED, CPPM),
- Optics and biophotonics (at Institut Fresnel, INT, INMED).
Equipment for biomedical research includes 3 preclinical MRI scanners (4.7T, 7T, 11.75T), 3 multi-organ MRI systems dedicated to clinical research (1.5T, 3T, 7T), 1 3T MRI for preclinical and clinical neuroimaging, 1 PET-CT and 1 SPECT-CT for clinical research, 1 pre-clinical PET-CT and SPECT-CT, 1 pre-clinical ultrasound scanner, 1 MEG, 1 two-photon microscope, 1 bio-fluorescence imager, 1 non-linear optical endoscopy system, a non-linear optical microscope device, 1 Raman imager, 1 SPCCT pre-clinical spectral scanner.
The main research themes focus on
- The development of innovative advanced optical systems for in vivo deep brain imaging and the study of myelin organization in the spinal cord using coherent Raman imaging.
- Ultra-high-field MRI (7T) for cerebral, muscular and osteo-articular imaging, radiofrequency coils with new materials.
- The development of sodium imaging, for early detection of pathologies
- Preclinical and clinical neuro-functional MRI
- Simultaneous acquisition of MEG, EEG and SEEG signals)
- The development of a spectral X-ray scanner by the Marseille particle physics center. This system is based on a new hybrid pixel detector enabling k-edge imaging of gadolinium and gold nanoparticles. This system will enable a reduction in the dose of X-rays received by the subject, as well as molecular imaging thanks to the incorporation of gadolinium- or gold-labeled tracers into the subject. This system has been installed at CERIMED since the end of 2018 for validation.
Hub laboratories
CRMBM, CERIMED, Institut Fresnel, INMED, CPPM, INT, LIS
Preclinical and clinical platforms / scientific managers
Center de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale/exploration métabolique par résonance magnétique: CRMBM/CEMEREM UMR7339, Monique Bernard
European Research Center for Medical Imaging/Multimodal Molecular Imaging: Cerimed, Benjamin Guillet
Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone/IRMf, optics : INT UMR 7289Director Guillaume Masson, fMRI Manager, Jean-Luc Anton, Optical Imaging Manager, Ivo Vanzetta
Institute of Systems Neuroscience/Magnetoencephalography: INS UMR 1106, Director Viktor Jirsa, MEG lab – Jean-Michel Badier
Institut Fresnel/ Optics, Photonics, Electromagnetism and Signal and Image Processing, UMR 7249: Director Sophie Brasselet, Head of Optics, Photonics, Hervé Rigneault