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Shared infrastructures and facilities

The FRAP network relies on a set of cutting-edge infrastructures and technology platforms spread across France. These open, shared resources form an essential foundation for supporting fundamental, translational, and clinical research on pancreatic cancer.

Animal Facilities

PSEA – Platform for Stabling and Animal Experimentation, Marseille

The PSEA is a state-of-the-art mice facility offering services for breeding wild-type and genetically modified animals in EOPS-protected areas, free of specific pathogens. Animals are housed in ventilated cages under sterile conditions, with expert staff assisting in genotyping and ES cell injections.
Key features:

  • 250 m² divided into 4 A1+ areas (700–1200 cages) and 1 A2 area (244 cages)
  • Experimental lab (30 m²) with bioluminescence and intra-vital fluorescence imaging (BioSpaceLab Photon Imager)
  • Autoclaved equipment storage and circulation zones
  • Managed by technical and scientific advisors, with oversight from a pharmacy manager and “well-being” committee
  • Part of a network of facilities shared by the Cancer & Immunology and Institut de Biologie de Développement de Marseille research institutes

P-PAC Imaging Platform, CRCL Lyon

Located at the Centre Léon Bérard, the P-PAC platform supports both academic and industrial research in mice and rats, offering essential in vivo imaging tools.
Capabilities:

  • X-ray scanner
  • Fluorescence imaging
  • Utilizes SPF animal houses and experimental labs for preclinical studies
  • Supported by PhenoCan investment program; maintained by SFR Santé Lyon EST

EOPS 1 Animal Facility, Lille

This facility ensures compliance with French legislation and European Directive 2010/63/EU, hosting cancer research projects, including patient-derived xenografts.
Services include:

  • Rodent housing with SPF/SOPF health status
  • Containment levels A1–A3
  • Mouse line breeding
  • Phenotyping, functional, and behavioral studies
  • In vivo imaging in collaboration with BICeL and LiiFE platforms
  • Supported by a veterinarian and an Animal Welfare Structure (SBEA)

CREFRE-Oncopole Facility, Toulouse

A service unit at CRCT, Toulouse focused on functional exploration and phenotypic characterization of animal models.
Highlights:

  • Functional studies, cryopreservation, and methodological research
  • Promotes 3Rs principles (Reduce, Refine, Replace)
  • Integrates genetic engineering, multimodal imaging, and animal husbandry
  • Collaborates with academic and biotech partners for technology transfer

FRIM Platform, CRI Paris

Dedicated to clinical and preclinical imaging of small animals, FRIM combines advanced imaging modalities with expert support for oncology research.
Capabilities:

  • MRI (7T), PET/MRI, SPECT/CT, echography
  • Radiolabelling lab for Gallium-68, Fluorine-18, Copper-64
  • Expertise in PET/MRI/MRE and innovative radiolabelling techniques
  • Supports both preclinical and clinical research projects
  • Part of national networks IBiSA and France Life Imaging (FLI)

Organoid Facilities

OrgaRES Facility, Lille

Led by Dr. Audrey Vincent, OrgaRES develops 3D tumor organoids from patient samples for rapid chemotherapy and targeted therapy screening.
Highlights:

  • High success rates for digestive tract cancers (70–90%)
  • Models chemoresistance and tumor heterogeneity
  • Collaborates with cytometry and cell sorting facilities
  • IBiSA-certified and engaged in national and international consortia

3D Hub-O Organoid Platform, Marseille

Supports the development of organoids from multiple cancer types, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
Equipment includes:

  • Leica M205FA stereomicroscope
  • Evos M7000 motorized microscope
  • Electroporator Sonidel NEPA21
  • Full cell culture infrastructure

Genomics Facilities

Go@L-GFS Platform, Lille

Provides genomic tools for large-scale cancer research, including sequencing, single-cell analysis, and epigenomics.
Key equipment:

  • NovaSeq 6000, Oxford Nanopore, Chromium, Nanostring nCounter
  • Bioinformatics and biostatistics support
  • Handles 1000 samples/year across 30 projects

NGS Platform, Institut Curie, Paris

Offers high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics support for both fundamental and translational research.
Features:

  • Illumina and PacBio sequencing
  • ISO9001 and NFX50-900 certified
  • Supports genome, exome, RNA, ChIP-seq, and custom protocols

CRISPR’IT Platform, Paris

Supports genome-wide CRISPR screens, from library preparation to bioinformatics analysis, for functional genomics studies.

Single Cell Omics Platform, Paris

Provides custom single-cell technologies including smartseq3, Indrop, 10X Chromium, and chip-seq for transcriptomic analyses.

CHICS Platform, Paris

Specializes in multiplex immunohistochemistry, spatial biology, and cellular imaging with AI-based analysis.
Instruments include:

  • Spatial-omics platforms (GeoMx, VISIUM, Phenocycler)

Flow Cytometry Facilities

IMRB, Paris

Equipped with advanced cell sorters and analyzers (BD Influx, Aria Fusion, LSR Fortessa X20, MACSQuant 16).
Services:

  • Cell characterization and sorting
  • High-content panel design and data analysis
  • Collaboration with PI3 immuno-monitoring platform

CRCL, Lyon

Offers full-spectrum cytometry and expert guidance for academic and industrial research.

CHICS Platform, Paris

Specializes in multiplex immunohistochemistry, spatial biology, and cellular imaging with AI-based analysis.
Instruments include:

  • Flow cytometers

Proteomics and Tissue Imaging Facilities

MALDI iMAP, CRI Paris

Performs high-resolution molecular imaging with MALDI mass spectrometry for protein, lipid, and drug mapping at the cellular level.

CRCM Proteomics Facility, Marseille

Provides proteomics, mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics support for biomarker discovery and basic research.
Equipment:

  • Orbitrap mass spectrometers, MALDI-TOF-TOF
  • Nanochromatography systems
  • Supports quantitative and targeted proteomics

CHICS Platform, Paris

Specializes in multiplex immunohistochemistry, spatial biology, and cellular imaging with AI-based analysis.
Instruments include:

  • Confocal and multispectral imaging
  • Automated histology systems
  • Spatial-omics platforms (GeoMx, VISIUM, Phenocycler)

Extracellular Vesicles & Virology

CRI Extracellular Vesicles Core Facility, Paris

Expertise in production, isolation, and characterization of extracellular vesicles.

Virology Platform, CRCT Toulouse

Offers BSL-3 oncolytic virus production, custom lentivector and AAV services, and training in viral vector techniques and CRISPR genome editing.

Multiplex IF Platforms

CRCL, Lyon

Located within the CRCL facilities, this platform provides multiplex immunofluorescence (IF) imaging services to support preclinical and translational research. The platform enables high-content tissue and cell imaging for cancer and immunology studies.

CRC CHICS, Paris

The CHIC platform offers multiplex IF as part of its spatial biology and tissue imaging services. It supports academic and industrial research, providing instrument access, full-service experiments, and data analysis for complex tissue phenotyping.

Lille

This platform is integrated within the local research infrastructure and will provide multiplex IF capabilities to support cancer, immunology, and translational projects. Details on instruments and services are forthcoming.

IPC, Marseille

The Institut Paoli-Calmettes (IPC) multiplex IF platform supports high-resolution imaging of tissue samples. It focuses on cancer research, offering both instrument access and technical support for complex multiplexed analyses.

CRCT, Toulouse

Embedded within the CRCT facilities, this platform provides multiplex IF imaging for preclinical studies. It enables detailed spatial analysis of tissue samples to support oncology and translational research programs.