|
The institute
The Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier (INM) is a new 4000-m² INSERM research center, dedicated to pathophysiology studies and therapeutic investigations in diseases of sensory organs and spinal cord. The INM is located in one of the two hospital campuses of Montpellier (Saint Eloi) nearby the neurological hospital Gui de Chauliac (neurology, neuroradiology, ophthalmology and ENT departments).
The INM currently houses the INSERM research unit 583 entitled "pathophysiology
and therapy of sensory and motor defects" created on January
1st, 2003. Free surface is planned to accommodate other research
groups working in close or complementary fields, and selected
by the scientific council of the institute. Unit 583 (105 people)
includes 5 teams (genetics
and therapy of retinal blindness, pathophysiology
and therapy of the inner ear, cellular
and molecular neurobiology of the somatosensory system, physiology
and therapeutic approaches of spinal cord pathologies, pathophysiology
and therapy of vestibular disorders )
with complementary research strategies (molecular
genetics, cellular imagery, electrophysiology and in vivo analysis, pre-clinical
trials).
The INM has been designed to facilitate the exchanges between teams, by mixing investigators using the same research strategies, to optimise the efficacy of their research. There are several core facilities including the RIO platform (joining the efforts of INSERM, CNRS and INRA) for cell imagery (two-photon microscopy, confocal and electron microscopy), human neurogenetics (DNA libraries, D-HPLC and sequencing) and several electrophysiology stations coupled with patch-clamp stations. An animal facility with an A2 area including rooms for surgery, behaviour analysis and functional testing will allow carrying out experiments in compliance with ethical and safety requirements.
|
