An integrated infrastructure for in vivo experimentation

It combines production and breeding, in vivo studies and functional phenotyping in rodent and fish models.

Its mission is to make these capabilities and its teams’ expertise available to address partners’ scientific questions and help turn them into relevant, achievable and robust experimental studies.

Our mission

IERP supports projects from model preparation to the acquisition and interpretation of experimental data.

Its activities include:

• production and breeding of rodent and fish models
• design and support of in vivo projects
• studies in contained environments
• development of infection and inflammation models
• study of host–microbe–environment interactions
• functional phenotyping, imaging and multiscale measurements
• data processing and analysis through development work and collaborations
• technological innovation and development of new capabilities
• ethical and regulatory support
• training and scientific exchange

Two experimental facilities and a shared platform

IERP is organised around two experimental facilities, one for rodents and one for aquaculture, and a functional phenotyping platform.

Rodent facility

It provides production, breeding, housing and experimentation in mice, rats and hamsters according to project needs and required health or containment conditions.

→ Explore rodent models

Aquaculture facility

It supports the production and study of trout, carp and zebrafish in aquaculture environments suited to each model.

→ Explore trout and carp models

→ Explore the zebrafish model

Functional phenotyping platform

It brings together 3D in vivo and ex vivo imaging, analysis and sorting of complex biological objects, behavioural monitoring and method development.

It can complement studies conducted within the animal facilities or be approached independently, including for projects involving other species or samples compatible with its capabilities.

→ Explore functional phenotyping

An INRAE research infrastructure

IERP has held INRAE’s Infrastructure Scientifique Collective (ISC) status since 2017.

It is part of the Université Paris-Saclay research environment and participates in several national networks supporting access to experimental infrastructures and scientific collaborations.

IERP holds the IBiSA label and is part of the national EMERG’IN network.

→ Explore our networks labels and partnerships

A team supporting your projects

An in vivo project requires skills extending beyond the performance of individual experimental procedures.

The IERP team combines expertise in:

• animal husbandry and aquaculture
• breeding management
• in vivo studies
• infectious disease research and biosafety
• imaging and functional phenotyping
• method development
• regulation and animal welfare
• project organisation and coordination

This combination supports partners from feasibility assessment through study implementation and, depending on the project, use of the results.

Management and facility leads

 

Christelle Langevin

IERP Director

Head of the functional phenotyping platform

 

Dimitri Rigaudeau

IERP Deputy Director

Head of the aquaculture facility

 

Loïc Charpenay

IERP Deputy Director

Head of the rodent facility

Cross-cutting functions supporting projects

Several responsibilities span all IERP activities:

• Ethics and animal welfare: applying the 3Rs, monitoring animals and improving practices.
• Quality and regulation: traceability, regulatory preparation and activity organisation.
• Biosafety: assessing and managing constraints associated with biological agents, GMOs and containment.
• Innovation and method development: adapting established methods and developing new capabilities according to scientific needs.
• Training and scientific exchange: sharing skills, providing training and participating in scientific and technical networks.

An infrastructure open to collaboration

IERP welcomes French and international academic and private-sector projects.

Depending on requirements, a collaboration may use an existing capability or require a preliminary development or adaptation phase.

Arrangements are defined according to the scientific question, model, required expertise, technical constraints and desired level of support.

Finding the right contact

Our project enquiry form provides a common entry point and directs requests to the relevant facility or area of expertise.

The project form helps direct requests according to:

• the species
• the model
• the experimental requirement
• the technology sought
• containment constraints
• or the general nature of the project

→ Contact IERP