EMBL and the Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML) have signed a memorandum of understanding that will facilitate collaborations between the two organisations and open up new scientific opportunities. CIML is a joint research unit of Aix-Marseille Université, the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), and the Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (Inserm).
“The MoU reinforces the strong ties that were already well established and growing between EMBL and France. It paves the way for new opportunities to collaborate with the French research community’s upcoming programmes,” says Plamena Markova, Joint Head of Government and EU Relations at EMBL.
Following an initial workshop between CIML and EMBL in November 2017, collaborations have been established in several areas, including immune cell biology and metabolism, and applications in genomics and flow cytometry.
Marseille has also been a site of EMBL activities, such as a recent alumni event and a visit from the Tara schooner, which was accompanied by talks including both CIML and EMBL speakers.
The MoU’s formalisation of EMBL and CIML’s relationship offers several specific benefits to both organisations, from joint research projects to use of relevant services and technologies. This new bridge will also improve information exchange, enhance EMBL’s relationships with researchers in France and CIML’s connection with the wider EMBL community, and encourage and support mobility of researchers – especially young researchers.