Inserm, from science to health
Inserm, the National Institute of Health and Medical Research in France, operating under the joint authority of the French Ministries of Health and Research, is the only public research organization in France entirely dedicated to biomedical research and human health. Its objective is to promote the health of all by advancing knowledge on living organisms and their diseases, and by developing innovation.
The institute partners with the most prestigious research institutions in the world that are committed to scientific challenges and progress in these fields. With more than 7,000 cooperation agreements, Inserm is present in over 100 countries, with over half of our collaborations in Europe and one quarter in the United States.
Inserm offers a wide range of tools for international cooperation designed to provide the most suitable framework and funding model for each project. These include International First Step, International Research Projects (IRP), Key International Partnerships (KIPs), International Joint Laboratories (IJL), and Thematic Coordination Programs (TCPs). These tools are designed to encourage researchers’ initiatives, by supporting emerging collaborations (programs through calls for proposals), and to strengthen institutional partnerships in strategic priority areas, thereby positioning Inserm as a global leader in health research.
Inserm’s Representative Office in North America
The United States is Inserm’s top international partner in terms of scientific co-publications, accounting for 35% of the institute’s international research output. To strengthen these scientific ties and enhance Inserm’s visibility in the U.S., the institute opened a representative office in Washington, D.C. in 1998. The office is part of the Office for Science and Technology of the French Embassy in Washington, DC, and represents Inserm in both the United States and Canada.
The office’s mission is to reinforce scientific partnerships in North America. It supports existing collaborations and promotes new partnerships aligned with Inserm’s strategic research priorities. The office ensures Inserm’s visibility among federal agencies and local stakeholders in life and health sciences. It also monitors scientific and science policy developments in North America, providing strategic insights to Inserm’s leadership. In coordination with Inserm’s thematic institutes, the office plays an active role in identifying promising researchers for recruitment through various Inserm programs, also open to foreigners, including permanent researcher positions (chargé de recherche de classe normale – CRCN) and junior director of research positions (directeur de recherche de 2 ème classe – DR2), the Atip-Avenir program, and chaires (chaires de professeur junior – CPJ).
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