INMED, Research and Development Center

The research aims of INMED is to study brain development, plasticity and brain disorders that are often initiated during brain maturation -- notably epilepsies, ischemic strokes, Parkinson's disease, ALS and other major neurological disorders. This includes studies on synaptic efficacy in various conditions, alterations produced with relevant animal models and human material. A particularly prominent aspect of research is devoted to the effects of environmental insults in-utero on brain development and its end function in adults.

How do early events affect the development? What is the role of genes and environment in the construction of the brain? It is clear that the extensive studies made on the more genetic aspects of neurosciences will now require the development of a more integrated post-genomic approach, and this can only be promoted by putting together experts in integrated physiology and pathology. A particularly important effort will also be made in understanding the
development of the brain in sub-human primates, as this offers the possibility of developing more suitable animal models of various diseases.

INMED is one of the largest neuroscience centers of the French Medical Research Council (INSERM). The original unit was founded in 1986 in Paris when Yehezkel Ben-Ari was nominated head of an INSERM unit in the maternity hospital or Port Royal (Paris). Initially composed of very few researchers (Enrico Cherubini, Jean-Luc Gaiarsa , Alfonso Represa and a few others) the team was studying temporal lobe epilepsies with the discovery of the kainate model of epilepsies- and brain development using almost exclusively electrophysiological and anatomical techniques.

In the following decade, the unit enlarged considerably with the venue of over 15 permanent researchers competent in very different domains, including molecular biology, immuno-cytochemistry, electron microscopy, biophysical
studies and dynamic imaging techniques. The domains of research also widened with the inclusion of brain maturation and the developmental sequences, role of GABA, mechanisms of cell death and role of apoptosis, brain oscillations, long term potentiation and alterations of synaptic efficacy, long term consequences of epileptic seizures and ischemic insults, imaging networks and neurons, identification of neuronal types and their role in pattern oscillations etc. The key words were and still are "the use of up-to-date recording techniques in physiologically and pathologically relevant preparations in order to determine the functional significance and pathogenicity of neuronal networks".

In 1999, we decided together - all of the permanent researchers of the lab over 30 researchers, technicians and their families - to migrate to Marseille, construct an institute with a strong aim of installing the INMED approach to basic science but also generate novel efforts to reduce the gaps between science and society. To this purpose, INMED was constructed with the following guidelines.

i) An institute composed of an integrative physiology that put at its centre the use of imaging, electrophysiology, complex in vitro preparations that are relevant to the physiological and pathological conditions in situ, mathematical tools to analyse networks, and the techniques of genetic transfections and Kos/ Kins used to serve the aims of understanding integrative functions;

ii) Biotech companies on site to foster interactions between basic and applied neuroscience --two companies are installed, including one that develops novel neuroprotectives agents based on the apoptotic mechanisms studied in INMED, and second one specialized in transfection techniques;

iii) A novel teaching approach to high schools students. Inspired by a school developed by Y Parnass in Jerusalem -- The 'Hippocampus' project brings students (15-17 years old ) to a specialised part of the institute to do experiments during periods of 3 days. The experiments -in genetics, immunology and neurosciences- are up to date ones with the best tools and equipments required and are non dogmatic in that the students debate as to the best way to answer a given question, before doing the experiments and presenting their results to the community. The overwhelming success of this initiative is reflected by the fact that the time table is overbooked for years ahead and classes from far away are on the waiting list for 2006-2007;

iv) The DNA school of the region is also hosted in the institute. It brings both young and adults (including the handicapped) to learn basic molecular biology techniques;

v) A summer high school for medial students is in formation. It will host 24 interns this summer for 9 days to do experiments in the domains of epilepsies. Other topics will be selected in coming years (Parkinson's, ALS, cerebrovascular disorders etc.) The school is sponsored by INSERM and GSK. INMED will also be a centre of formation of clinicians in basic research as well as a regional centre of Neuroscience devoted to developing the ties with Mediterranean countries;

vi) The organisation of international meetings in La Ciotat - a small town close to Marseille and INMED located on a nice sea shore. These annual meetings are now organised for 4 years and bring together 250 speakers and participants to debate on important topics (Nature and Nurture in Brain development, The multiple facets of GABAergic synapses and for 2005 Nature and Nurture in neurological disorders) see website. Organized in early September, the meeting is cosponsored by TINS with a special issue annually devoted to the meeting.