An International Research Network (IRN) has been launched to strengthen collaboration between France and China in biological optical imaging research. This initiative brings together leading institutions from France-BioImaging and the National Biomedical Imaging Center (NBIC) in China to advance microscopy technologies and methodologies.

The partnership focuses on four main areas: image analysis and data management, probes, super-resolution imaging, and deep-tissue imaging.

In March, several FBI members attended Euro-BioImaging All Hands Meeting at EMBL in Heidelberg. This event provided an opportunity to meet colleagues from all Euro-BioImaging nodes and discuss imaging technology innovation, data, access, training, and international collaboration.

A session was specifically dedicated to the Euro-BioImaging User Access Experience, featuring an interactive discussion during which Yves Lutz (IGBMC) presented the experience of the France-BioImaging Alsace Node.

In October, FBI participated in the GBI Exchange of Experience 2025, to explore “Imaging in 2035 – Sustaining Infrastructure Ecosystems & Advanced Technologies.” France-BioImaging was represented by Caroline Thiriet and Jean Salamero.

As Mission Officer for Inter-Infrastructure Relationships at FBI and member of the GBI Working Group on Impact, Jean Salamero moderated the session “Micro-to-Macro: Measuring the Hidden Impacts of Imaging Scientists & Networks.”

Since their integration in June, the Normandie and Rhône-Alpes nodes have significantly expanded the scope and excellence of the French node of Euro-BioImaging.

The Normandie Node brings unique expertise in:
* Intravital imaging for vascular diseases,
* Microalgal biosciences and marine biology imaging,
* Advanced cryo-correlative microscopies and super-resolution imaging.

The Rhône-Alpes Node enhances national capabilities with:
*Deep expertise in large-volume 3D EM with integrated image analysis pipelines,
* Pioneering technologies in biomechanics and mechanobiology,
* Rare capacities in spatial transcriptomics, adaptive optics, and metabolic imaging.

In October, several members of FBI took part in the opportunities offered by EVOLVE project, enabling valuable exchanges and experiences.

Through the Job Shadowing initiative, Guillaume Gay, Data Engineer for the FBI.data mission welcomed Kenneth Ho from the Francis Crick Institute to discusse shared challenges and solutions in microscopy data management. Caroline Thiriet, Deputy Administrative Director for International Relations and Industry at FBI, hosted Virginia Pierini from the EMBL Imaging Centre to exchange on how France-BioImaging coordinates its distributed national infrastructure.

Finally, Fabrice Cordelière, Head of Training for FBI, took part in the Train-the-Trainer event, mentoring Iva Švecová from the Light Microscopy Facility at the Institute of Experimental Medicine. Eva benefited from Fabrice’s extensive experience in team management, user training, coding practices, and user-driven data backup workflows.

For the second consecutive year, France-BioImaging organized its data and machine-learning competition. The challenge aimed to predict a fused 3D image using only one or two available 3D views, addressing key limitations of current microscopy techniques such as image quality, live-imaging duration, photon budget optimization and image analysis facilitation.

The winners were:
1st place: Marek Wodzinski
2nd place: Shengyan Xu
3rd place: Cyril Meyer

Once again, we were delighted by the diversity of submitted images, showcasing a wide range of microscopy techniques, models and applications. This competition highlights how microscopy images can also take on an artistic and creative dimension, revealing the beauty of the invisible world.

The winners were:
1st place: Nicolas Barois with Gut Flower-Flora
2nd place: Vishwadeep Mane with The Puzzled Awakening
3rd place: Simli Dey with Kaleidoscope

In 2025, we highlighted several users who benefited from the FBI User Access Fund in 2024. Through their portraits, you discovered their research journeys and how access to FBI platforms supported their projects.

We were pleased to interview:
Atitheb Chaiyasitdhi
Carolina Eliscovich
Mariia Nazarova
Hamed Abbasi

Throughout 2025, numerous scientific articles were published by FBI members and platform users.

From new protocols to innovative research results, a wide range of topics were covered, including cancer research, virology, plant biology, developmental biology and data analysis.

In November, we launched the first edition of FBI Connect, a new webinar series dedicated to the France-BioImaging community. This initiative aims to highlight cutting-edge techniques developed within FBI facilities and demonstrate how they support research projects.

For this inaugural session, we welcomed Robert Quast (CBS, Montpellier), who presented a novel multicolor single-molecule FRET technique, unique in France and Europe, enabling precise visualization of membrane protein dynamics.
The replay is still available on Youtube!

Throughout the year, many webinars hosted by FBI members were shared with the community. These events provided opportunities to disseminate expertise, share knowledge and present the latest developments.

Several Working Groups also held online meetings, ensuring continued exchange even when in-person events were not possible.

This autumn, two FBI microscopy platforms invited the public to dive into the fascinating world of microscopy!

The Montpellier Ressources Imagerie platform presented “Life is Beautiful,” a photography exhibition showcasing microscopy images at several public events. This project was awarded funding through an EVOLVE call.

IMAG’IC, the Institut Cochin imaging platform, participated in the CNRS “Visites Insolites,” offering visitors a rare opportunity to access usually restricted scientific spaces and discover science in unexpected ways.

Our Business Engineer, Samy Al-Bourgol, represented France-BioImaging at several trade shows targeting the industrial sector.

From environment and health to cosmetics and materials science, he presented the wide range of services and expertise offered by FBI platforms to industrial partners.