12 Nov BRIC Unit Presented to the CEO of Inserm, Professor Didier Samuel

Posted at 16:23h in News, Society by

Official Visit of Professor Didier Samuel

Professor Didier Samuel, Chief Executive Officer of Inserm, made an official visit on 9 November 2026 to all Inserm research units based at the University of Bordeaux. He was accompanied by Bruno Quesnel and Alain Eychene, Director and Deputy Director respectively of the Inserm Thematic Institute for Cancer. Bruno Quesnel is also Director of the Research and Innovation Division at the French National Cancer Institute (INCa). The delegation was welcomed by Richard Salives, Inserm Regional Delegate, and Jean-René Cazalets, Vice-President for Research at the University of Bordeaux.

The day provided an opportunity to present the progress made by each unit, including the Bordeaux Institute of Oncology (BRIC), as well as the unit’s renewal project, led by Frédéric Saltel.

Focus: The BRIC Laboratory

Established in 2022 through the merger of four partner laboratories, BRIC initially comprised eleven research teams. A twelfth team, specialising in kidney cancer, joined the unit during the current term, strengthening ties with Bordeaux University Hospital (CHU de Bordeaux). A thirteenth team is expected to join the project for the next renewal.

  • Attractiveness: The number of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers has risen markedly, reflecting a recruitment dynamic that is favourable to early-career researchers.
  • Funding: Own resources, secured in response to calls for proposals, have increased steadily.
  • Collaboration: The unit works in close proximity with Bordeaux University Hospital and the Institut Bergonié, with a view to consolidating clinical and translational synergies for the forthcoming term.

“We are strengthening our regional and European partnerships to make BRIC a centre of excellence dedicated to cancer research.” – Frédéric Saltel, Director of BRIC

Key Points Addressed During the Visit

Research Projects

BRIC’s teams work across three main research themes:

  1. Origins of cancer
  2. Tumour ecosystem
  3. Resistance and relapse

These themes are underpinned by cross-cutting programmes:

  • Vascular oncology
  • Ageing and exposome
  • Metabolism and plasticity
  • Precision medicine, biomarkers and AI

All teams are affiliated with a hospital department and a healthcare institution (Bordeaux University Hospital or Institut Bergonié).

The ENLIGHT European Consortium

Frédéric Saltel reaffirmed BRIC’s commitment as coordinator of the ENLIGHT NetCare consortium, which now brings together ten partner universities (compared with four in 2023). The laboratory actively contributes to the organisation of the consortium, fostering collaboration in both research and training.

Public Outreach and Patient Partnership

Frédéric Saltel presented the activities of the Patient–Society Group, whose objectives are to:

  • Make scientific communication more accessible to the general public and to patients.
  • Establish lasting collaborations with partner patient associations.
  • Develop participatory research in partnership with the Ligue contre le Cancer at regional level.

Next Steps
Preparations are already under way for the next stage in the run-up to the unit’s upcoming term: a visit from our Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) on 25 and 26 January 2027.