SAIRPICO, a team led by Dr. Charles Kervrann that combines artificial intelligence with cell imaging

SAIRPICO particularity's lies in its double affiliation, both to Institut Curie and to the National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology (Inria), in Rennes. Thus, she takes advantage of the expertise of both institutes to design innovative imaging approaches, aimed at revealing the secrets of cellular biology and opening up new perspectives in nanomedicine. 

► Can you tell us about your background and your work?  

Dr. Charles Kervrann: I obtained my doctorate and my accreditation to supervise research (habilitation à diriger des recherches - HDR) in signal processing and telecommunications at the University of Rennes 1, respectively in 1995 and 2010. I was appointed as research director at Inria in 2010. Previously, I held the position of researcher in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Informatics of INRAE in Jouy-en-Josas from 1998 to 2010. My experience led me to head a team named SERPICO at Inria, in Rennes, from 2017 to 2023. The result of a collaboration between Inria, Institut Curie1 and the CNRS, its objective was to develop innovative mathematical and statistical methods for the processing of biological images. 

► Since then, how has your team evolved? 

Dr. Charles Kervrann: In 2023, SERPICO underwent a reconfiguration and became SAIRPICO. The team then integrated the Cellular and Chemical Biology unit (CNRS UMR3666 / Inserm U1143), directed by Dr. Ludger Johannes, and is now located both in Paris, at Institut Curie, and in Rennes, at Inria. Today it has 16 members divided between the two institutes, according to their specialties. We invest artificial intelligence techniques in our image processing to study cellular dynamics and molecular interactions. We also wish to take advantage of this new impetus to take an interest in a new image modality: polarized optical microscopy, which is still little explored in biology.  

► How do you leverage your dual locations? 

Dr. Charles Kervrann: To carry out our work, we have on one side Inria, which provides expertise in applied mathematics and artificial intelligence. On the other hand, Institut Curie brings its know-how in cellular biology, chemical biology and in imaging. Working at Institut Curie allows us to take advantage of its research resources and infrastructure. They are essential for us to make significant progress in our projects, and in particular to contribute to precision medicine.  

In addition, I am convinced that this attachment to Institut Curie strengthens our impact and our relevance in the fight against cancer, while positioning us as a reference in bioinformatics imaging for basic research in oncology.