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UE0907 - IERP / Infectiology of Fishes and Rodent Facility

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Designing and conducting tailored in vivo studies, from rodents to fish

IERP, the Infectiology of Fishes and Rodent Facility, is an INRAE research infrastructure located in Jouy-en-Josas, within the Paris-Saclay research ecosystem.

We support academic teams and private-sector partners in designing and conducting in vivo projects involving rodents and fish, from the production and housing of animals with controlled health status through experimental monitoring and functional phenotyping to data analysis, depending on the project.

Our approach adapts the model and methods to the scientific question: infectious diseases and host–microbe–environment interactions, microbiota, nutrition, immunology, physiology, development, behaviour, or any other project compatible with the infrastructure’s capabilities.

→ Discuss the feasibility of your project

→ Explore our expertise

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What support does your project need?

Designing an in vivo study

Do you have a scientific question, a therapeutic candidate to test or a model to develop? We work with you to design an in vivo study in rodents or fish, considering:

  • the choice of model and measurements;
  • technical feasibility, available capacity and the timeline;
  • regulatory and biosafety requirements.

Support is tailored to your needs, from study design to implementation.

→ Design a study with IERP

Choosing a model or facility

Mice, rats, hamsters, trout, carp and zebrafish: IERP brings together complementary capabilities for your project:

  • production, breeding and housing of animals with controlled health status;
  • model development and in vivo studies;
  • administration procedures, sampling and longitudinal monitoring

Animal intake and experimental options, including SPF conditions or A2 containment, are assessed according to the species, facility and project.

→ Explore our models and facilities

Exploring, imaging and characterising

The functional phenotyping platform supports the monitoring and characterisation of biological responses using a range of approaches:

  • in vivo bioluminescence imaging, confocal and two-photon microscopy, and 3D histology;
  • cytometric sorting and analysis of zebrafish larvae and organoids;
  • physiological and behavioural assessment

Image or data processing and analysis may complement the project on a case-by-case basis through collaborations or R&D projects.

→ Explore functional phenotyping

An integrated approach, from animal to data

An in vivo project involves more than access to a facility or a piece of equipment.

IERP combines expertise in animal husbandry, experimentation, biosafety, experimental design and functional phenotyping to build a workflow suited to each project.

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Design

Defining the model, assessing feasibility, adapting the experimental design and identifying constraints.

Production and housing

Production, breeding or housing of conventional or SPF animals, including genetically modified animals, health monitoring, project organisation and traceability.

Implementation

Carrying out procedures, longitudinal monitoring, sampling and experimental coordination, including at A2 containment level when required by the project.

Phenotyping and analysis

Imaging, behaviour, physiology, image analysis and method development according to the project.

Models to study host–microbe–environment interactions

Infectious disease research is a longstanding, central area of expertise at IERP, while the infrastructure’s capabilities also support broader scientific questions.

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Work conducted or hosted at IERP includes:

  • infection, immunity and vaccination
  • microbiota, nutrition and metabolism
  • reproduction and development
  • physiology and behaviour
  • genetics and selection
  • development and validation of functional phenotyping methods

This diversity allows the same facilities and expertise to support different scientific questions, provided that the model and experimental conditions are compatible.

→ Explore our areas of expertise

Why work with IERP?

Complementary rodent and fish models

Choose a model suited to your scientific question and consider complementary approaches across species: IERP brings rodent and aquaculture facilities together within a single infrastructure.

Controlled health status and A2 containment capabilities

Conventional or SPF environments and A2 containment capabilities allow experimental conditions to be adapted to the model and project. Biosafety requirements are considered from the study design stage.

Conventional and genetically modified models

Production, breeding, housing and line monitoring: IERP prepares the animals required for your study. The model’s compatibility with the facilities, health conditions and regulatory framework is examined during the feasibility assessment.

Tailored in vivo studies

Developing a model, adapting a protocol or combining experimentation, imaging and functional phenotyping: the teams work with you to tailor support to the scientific and technical needs of your project.

An infrastructure open to collaboration

Research teams, companies, biotechnology firms and start-ups: IERP welcomes projects from public and private research. It can also contribute to scientific collaborations and projects supported by national or European funding programmes.

An integrated scientific environment in Paris-Saclay

Based in Jouy-en-Josas, IERP benefits from its integration within the INRAE and Paris-Saclay research ecosystem and its links with several national infrastructures and networks.

→ Explore our expertise

Experimental capabilities supported by a documented scientific output

IERP activities regularly contribute to scientific projects involving both rodents and fish.

These studies illustrate very different uses of the infrastructure: infectious challenges, vaccination, microbiota, physiology, behaviour, genetics, imaging methods and experimental development.

More than 300 scientific publications associated with IERP activities since 2000, with more than 15 publications per year since 2020.

→ Explore IERP achievements and publications

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1. Tell us about your needs

Your scientific question, proposed species or model, main constraints and timeline.

2. We assess feasibility

Depending on the project, the assessment covers scientific, technical, capacity, regulatory and biosafety considerations.

3. We agree on the scope

The model, procedures, responsibilities, timeline, deliverables and costs are specified after the initial scoping stage.

4. The project is prepared and carried out

Animals, facilities, equipment, authorisations and experimental organisation are coordinated according to the agreed scope.

5. The results are used

Arrangements for data delivery, analysis, scientific dissemination or contribution to a publication depend on the project.

Requests can be handled confidentially, and a confidentiality agreement can be established when necessary.

An initial response is provided within 5 to 10 working days.

→ Tell us about your project

Ethics, animal welfare and experimental quality

Project design and implementation incorporate regulatory requirements, biosafety, animal welfare and the 3Rs: Replacement, Reduction and Refinement.

IERP has a dedicated animal welfare body, and its staff are trained and authorised for the activities they perform.

Developing monitoring methods, longitudinal measurements and new functional phenotyping approaches also contributes to improvements in experimental practice.

→ Explore our approach to ethics quality and the 3Rs

Do you have a scientific question or a model to develop?

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Your project does not need to be fully defined before you first contact us.

Tell us about your question, proposed model and main constraints. The team will identify the relevant facility and discuss the initial feasibility requirements with you.

→ Discuss the feasibility of your project

→ Contact IERP

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