Research at Institut Curie

Research is the foundation of the Curie model. Institut Curie is the leading French cancer research center, whose excellence has been recognized by several awards: "Integrated Cancer Research Site (SIRIC)" awarded by Institut National du Cancer, "Excellence in Research - ERC" awarded by the European Commission, and "Comprehensive Cancer Center" awarded by the Organization of the European Cancer Institutes. Internationally recognized, the Curie model is a vector for accelerating the transfer of knowledge towards innovation.

Basic research, source of new concepts

The Research Center of Institut Curie strives to expand knowledge of living mechanisms and to understand the pathways that lead to cancer, as well as the processes of resistance to treatments. The freedom of its researchers, combined with interdisciplinarity, cutting-edge technologies, and strong academic partnerships in France and internationally – aims to remove scientific barriers to achieve breakthrough innovations.

With 13 joint research units in joint supervision with the CNRS, Inserm, PSL University, Sorbonne University, Paris Cité University, and Paris-Saclay University, the Research Center comprises 86 teams, or more than 1,200 collaborators spread over three sites in Île-de-France: Paris, Orsay and Saint-Cloud.

Interdisciplinarity and advanced technologies

The research carried out by the scientific teams of Institut Curie connects all aspects of biology along with those of chemistry, physics, computer science, mathematics, etc. The Curie 2030 - Hopes against cancer strategic plan aims to further strengthen this interdisciplinarity for the years to come. It includes six priority scientific programs, which define the main directions for the coming years:

• Chemical Biology and Innovative Therapeutics
• Tumor Microenvironment, Immunology, Immune and Cell Therapies
• Computational Biology and Systems Medicine
• Developmental Biology and Pediatric Oncology
• Genome Biology
• Cell Biology and Physics of Living Systems

Institut Curie is equipped with 19 high-level technological platforms, which allows us to explore life in all its complexity and at all scales, from the unique cell to the whole organism. The CurieCoreTech network, which brings them together, is a member of the European CoreForLife network. The power of bioinformatics andartificial intelligence developed at Institut Curie allows us today to analyze and benefit from the massive data generated by these advanced technologies.

Translational research, relay of scientific innovation

The Curie model is based on close collaboration between scientists and physicians to facilitate the transfer of discoveries from basic research into medical applications that benefit patients. Thus, the translational research department of Institut Curie makes its human resources – 90 employees – and technological resources available to the Institute’s researchers and clinicians. In this way, it promotes multidisciplinary, collaborative, and bidirectional projects that aim to improve the care of cancer patients.

Clinical research for access to innovation

Clinical research encompasses all research carried out on patients. Such research is initiated after the patient has given informed consent on the basis of written information explained by a healthcare professional, and within a regulatory framework that respects patients' rights and is strictly controlled by the healthcare authorities and the personal data protection committee.

Many different types of trials 

At Institut Curie, in addition to therapeutic innovations demonstrating the efficacy of a new treatment or better tolerance for equivalent efficacy, and technical innovations in surgery, for example, clinical research includes :

• The study of new diagnostic tests;
• The development of new radiotherapy devices;
• The study of the use of artificial intelligence in anatomopathology;
• The identification of circulating biomarkers in the blood for early detection of tumor development. 
• Improving understanding of mechanisms of resistance to treatment and fine characterization of tumors. 
• Pain management. 
• The development of more hygienic dressings. 
• Disease monitoring without burdening patients. 

In each case, the aim is to improve care compared with a standard.

Institut Curie promotes its own trials, and also participates in trials initiated in France and around the world by other academic centers and the pharmaceutical industry. Institut Curie is heavily involved in its own trials, and each year includes over 2,000 patients in some 200 clinical trials. This gives them the opportunity to benefit from innovative therapies and contribute to the advancement of research.