Could you introduce yourself?

I am a CNRS Research Director working at the Laboratoire de Biogenèse Membranaire in Bordeaux. My background is inplant cell biology, with a long-standing interest in how cells communicate with each other. Over the years, I have focused on plasmodesmata, these nanoscale channels that connect plant cells and allow molecules to move from one cell to another.

I am currently leading a research group studying membrane dynamics and cell-cell communication in plants. I am also involved in the direction of the Bordeaux Imaging Center, being Deputy Director since january 2025.

You have recently been awarded the CNRS Silver Medal. Could you tell us more about your research and its main focus?

Our work addresses a simple question that is still largely unresolved:

How do plant cells control what moves between them?

We focus on plasmodesmata and more specifically on the role of membranes, lipid-protein interaction in regulating this exchange. We combine cell biology, genetics, in silico modelling and advanced imaging to dissect how these channels form, how they open or close, and how they contribute to plant development and responses to the environment.

How does microscopy contribute to your work?

Microscopy is central to everything we do. Plasmodesmata are extremely small (30 nm in diameter) and highly dynamic, so we need imaging approaches that allow us to see both their structure and their behavior in living tissues.

Without microscopy, we simply could not access these processes.

Which microscopy techniques are especially important for your research?

We rely on a combination of electron and advanced light microscopy to bridge structure and dynamics across scales. Super-resolution approaches such as STED and expansion microscopy allow us to resolve the nanoscale organization of plasmodesmata, while electron tomography provides detailed views of their internal architecture. At the tissue level, we use serial block-face scanning electron microscopy to map their distribution across organs.

To capture dynamics in living tissues, we use two-photon microscopy, in particular to photoactivate fluorescent tracers and follow their movement from cell to cell. We complement this with lattice light-sheet imaging, as well as approaches such as FRAP and FLIP, to quantify molecular mobility and intercellular trafficking in real time.

How does your work contribute to innovation in microscopy applied to plant science?

Our work pushes microscopy in two directions. On one side, we adapt existing methods to plant tissues, which are often challenging to image. On the other, we develop new strategies to track intercellular trafficking with high spatial and temporal resolution. This includes approaches to follow molecules as they move across individual plasmodesmata.

This effort is very much collective. We work closely with the Bordeaux Imaging Center and collaborate with leading groups in single-molecule imaging, in particular the team of Laurent Cognet (France-BioImaging R&D team) .

These interactions are key to pushing the limits of what we can resolve in living plant tissues.

As deputy director of the Bordeaux Imaging Center and a member of a France-BioImaging R&D team, what message would you like to share with researchers working in plant biology?

Imaging is not just a technical step, it shapes the questions you can ask and also opens access to questions that were not accessible before. I would encourage researchers to engage early with imaging platforms and to build real interactions with imaging specialists. These platforms are essential for the whole community. Having highly skilled engineers with strong expertise who work hand in hand with researchers is a real strength of the French system, and something that is invaluable for moving projects forward. I hope this model will continue to be strongly supported in the coming years.

Plant systems bring specific constraints, but they also open unique possibilities. There is still a lot to explore, and progress will come from close exchanges between researchers and engineers specialized in imaging and data analysis.

Could you briefly introduce yourself?

I completed a PhD in cell biology, where I investigated microtubule dynamics within the mitotic spindle in C. elegans. This work allowed me to develop strong expertise in image processing and quantitative analysis. I then aimed to broaden my skill set by specializing in super-resolution light microscopy.

Supported by France-BioImaging funding, I joined the MRic core facility in Rennes to transfer the RIM technique and make it accessible for independent use by researchers. I am currently part of the MRic electronic unit, where I am working on the development of CLEM approaches.

What was your role in this project?

I was in charge of optimizing system parameters and refining data acquisition workflows. I also contributed to improving the prototype’s usability, enabling biologists to operate the system independently.

Briefly, what is RIM? What makes it particularly interesting compared to other super-resolution techniques?

RIM combines speckle wide-field illumination and a new statistical approach based on the covariance, the variance, and the standard deviation. RIM is based on the use of speckle patterns, which arise naturally from laser interference. In practice, the laser beam is directed onto a spatial light modulator (SLM), where random phase patterns are applied. When combined with the intrinsic speckle field, these patterns create a series of random illumination fronts that sequentially cover the sample.

From the resulting dataset, a super-resolution image can be reconstructed by exploiting the statistical invariance of the speckle patterns. Its key advantage is the ability to image living samples, thanks to its rapid acquisition and low phototoxicity, while also supporting deep imaging enabled by the unique properties of speckle illumination.

This project is based on a technology transfer from Toulouse. Could you explain how this was initiated and implemented?

An initial prototype of the microscope was developed at the Toulouse facility (LICT Core facility). This innovative approach quickly generated strong interest among research teams in Rennes, leading to a project proposal in 2020 to establish the system locally. However, due to limited personnel availability in Toulouse, a funding application was submitted to France-BioImaging in 2023 to support the full transfer and optimization of the technique in Rennes.

What were the main steps involved in setting up the RIM system at MRic?

We first assembled the prototype and acquired the required optical components. The setup was carried out by Gilles Le Marchand, co–first author of the study¹. We then ensured proper alignment and optimized the system to achieve high-quality speckle illumination. I subsequently developed the system’s metrology and prepared a user manual so that biologists could operate it independently. Finally, the system was validated in collaboration with research teams using their own biological samples.

Which aspects of the system proved to be the most challenging to reproduce in a core facility environment?

Optimization was the most challenging stage. During this phase, Gilles and I worked closely together: I evaluated the system from a biological perspective, while he, as the optics specialist, fine-tuned the setup to achieve the highest possible illumination quality.

What does this technology bring to the platform’s users?

This technology enables users to perform super-resolution imaging on living organisms, something that was previously impossible on this platform at this acquisition speed.

How do you support users in getting started with the system, both for acquisition and reconstruction?

Core facility engineers provide training on the system, covering both the use of the microscope and the reconstruction process. A user manual is always available to help users get started with the system. Afterward, the engineers remain available to assist users in optimizing the acquisition and reconstruction parameters for their samples.

Why is it important to share and pool innovations across imaging platforms?

The goal is to enable as many biologists as possible to address their research questions by drawing on the technical and technological expertise of the platform engineers.

Do you see potential developments toward other modalities?

RIM is highly compatible with multimodal approaches.

It can be combined with:

• multi-color imaging
• 3D acquisition
• time-resolved imaging (xyzt)

These perspectives open the door to increasingly rich and comprehensive datasets, bridging spatial and temporal scales.

(1) Soler, N., L. Marchand, G., Dutertre, S., et al. 2026. “Implementation and Optimization of a Random Illumination Microscope: towards Robustness for Microscopy Core Facility.” Biology of the Cell118, no. 3: e70060. https://doi.org/10.1111/boc.70060

The International Research Network (IRN) BioImage, established in 2025, is co-led by Laurent Bourdieu (IBENS, Paris) and Liangyi Chen (National Biomedical Imaging Center, Beijing). It aims to structure French and Chinese bioimaging communities around the theme of “Advanced microscopy and super-resolution applied to life sciences”.

With a duration of five years, the IRN brings together six Chinese research laboratories and nine French laboratories, several of which are members of France-BioImaging. It is notably supported through the organisation of symposia and thematic schools, including the upcoming Sino-French BioImaging Symposium 2026 (SFBS 2026), which will take place in Bordeaux from October 14 to 21, 2026.

A long-standing scientific collaboration

French and Chinese bioimaging communities are among the leading actors in the field at the international level. Both countries have developed national research infrastructures dedicated to bioimaging (France-BioImaging and National Biomedical Imaging China) providing researchers with access to advanced microscopy technologies.

Since 2015, regular scientific exchanges have been established, leading to multiple collaborations and joint publications. In 2017, a delegation of scientists from Peking University was hosted in France at the initiative of France-BioImaging. This dynamic continued with the organisation of two Sino-French symposia, held in Paris in 2019 and in Beijing in 2024.

The creation of IRN BioImage in 2025 builds on these collaborations, with the aim of structuring and expanding them over the long term.

Structuring exchanges and advancing bioimaging approaches

The project is structured around four main scientific axes: the development of chemical or genetically encoded probes, the improvement of super-resolution microscopy techniques and deep tissue imaging methods, and image analysis.

On the French side, nine research laboratories are involved, including IBENS (Paris), IINS (Bordeaux), ISMO (Orsay), INP (Marseille), BioCore (Nantes), LBP (Strasbourg), IPHC (Strasbourg), LPEM (Paris), and LOB (Palaiseau).

The IRN also supports researcher mobility between the two countries, through the hosting of PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and senior scientists within partner laboratories. Co-supervised PhD projects are encouraged to strengthen team integration and foster long-term scientific collaborations.

Beyond scientific objectives, the IRN also promotes the exchange of best practices in research infrastructure management and supports the organisation of structuring events for the community.

SFBS 2026: a key event for the international community

In this context, the Sino-French BioImaging Symposium 2026 (SFBS 2026) will mark the next milestone of this cooperation. The event will take place in Bordeaux from October 14 to 21, 2026.

It will include an advanced workshop (October 14-16) aimed at early-career researchers seeking to deepen their theoretical and practical knowledge of super-resolution imaging techniques, followed by an international symposium (October 19-21) bringing together French, Chinese, and European experts.

By combining training and scientific exchange, SFBS 2026 will contribute to strengthening interactions between communities and fostering the emergence of new collaborations in bioimaging.

Multiciliated cell differentiation involves key cellular processes, including centriole amplification and ciliogenesis. In this study⁽¹⁾, researchers from IBDM in Marseille combine an inducible cellular model, proteomics and microscopy to describe the temporal progression and organization of this process.

A controlled system to follow multiciliated cell differentiation

The study is based on an inducible A6-MCI cell line, allowing synchronized differentiation into multiciliated cells. This model provides a framework to investigate successive stages of the process over a defined time course.

Within this context, microscopy techniques were used alongside molecular analyses to monitor structural changes. Confocal fluorescence microscopy enabled the visualization of centriole amplification over time, revealing a progressive increase in centriole number following induction.

These observations contributed to defining a temporal sequence of events, spanning early amplification phases, deuterosome-mediated centriole production, and later stages of maturation.

Structural characterization of deuterosomes and centriole production

To examine the organization of deuterosomes and centrioles at higher resolution, the authors combined several microscopy techniques.

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron tomography provided detailed views of Xenopus deuterosome ultrastructure, revealing that these organelles are composed of multiple electron-dense units arranged in connected assemblies. Different morphologies were observed, including elongated and branched structures, with arrangements forming chain-like organizations.

In addition, expansion microscopy allowed the molecular characterization of these structures at improved spatial resolution using fluorescence imaging, complementing electron microscopy observations.

Together, these imaging modalities provided a multi-scale description of deuterosome centriole amplification platform organization.

Linking structural observations and functional perturbations

Microscopy was also used to observe ciliogenesis at the apical surface of differentiated cells. Confocal imaging confirmed the presence and spatial organization of multiple cilia following centriole maturation.

In parallel, the study combined proteomic, functional analyses and imaging approaches to relate molecular perturbations to observable structural outcomes. In particular the role of CDK7 was investigated using pharmacological inhibition. Imaging revealed that inhibition of CDK7 led to a marked reduction in centriole amplification and prevented cilia formation.

This study integrates imaging with proteomic and functional analyses to document multiciliated cell differentiation, providing a coherent view of its successive stages. By linking structural observations to their molecular context, it offers a comprehensive description of how centriole amplification and ciliogenesis are coordinated over time, and highlights the value of combining complementary approaches to investigate complex cellular processes.

(1) Camille Boutin, Olivier Rosnet, Marine Touret, Stéphane Audebert, Luc Camoin, Salomé Dussert, Nicolas Brouilly, Virginie Thomé, Jean Plumail, Denis Fortun, Jean-Paul Borg, Laurent Kodjabachian; An inducible multiciliated cell line resolves proteome dynamics and identifies CDK7 as a conserved regulator. J Cell Biol 6 April 2026; 225 (4): e202506154. doi: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202506154

France-BioImaging (FBI), the national research infrastructure in biology and health dedicated to biological imaging, has established an Africa hub aimed at structuring long-term scientific collaborations and supporting the development of bioimaging capacities across the African continent. This initiative builds on several years of exchanges with African partners and is based on training, networking, and collaborative research activities. A new milestone will be reached with the organization of the BEAMS school in Dakar (Senegal) in November 2026, dedicated to the study of biodiversity and ecosystem sustainability.

Structuring Africa-France scientific cooperation in bioimaging

Created in December 2024 at the initiative of Jean Salamero (former Director of France-BioImaging, CNRS Research Director until June 2025), Samira Benadda (head of the Photonic Microscopy Platform at IBENS – ENS/PSL), and Jean-Luc Verdeil (scientific head of the MRI-PHiV imaging facility at CIRAD), the Africa hub of France-BioImaging brings together 12 members from different nodes of the infrastructure. Its objective is to support the emergence of a bioimaging community in Africa while strengthening scientific links between African and French researchers.

This initiative continues discussions initiated in 2021 with the Africa Microscopy Initiative (AMI). A consultation phase conducted in 2022 with African universities and academic partners, in collaboration with French institutions such as CNRS, CIRAD, IRD, and Aix-Marseille University, led to the definition of an open strategy extending beyond francophone regions, in alignment with AMI and the African BioImaging Consortium.

In 2023, these efforts were strengthened with the launch of the Africa-France Joint Initiative for Bioimaging, which supported ten collaborative research projects.

Training, exchanges and co-construction at the core of the initiative

The Africa hub is structured around several complementary priorities: strengthening scientific exchanges, developing training and mobility opportunities for African researchers, supporting the creation of bioimaging schools in Africa, and contributing to international calls for projects.

In 2024-2025, new Africa-France projects were carried out within the Imaging4All program of the Global BioImaging network, supported by the Wellcome Trust and targeting low- and middle-income countries.

Through these actions, France-BioImaging follows a co-construction approach, aiming to build balanced, sustainable partnerships rooted in local realities.

“The impact of the Africa Hub initiatives is twofold: strengthening technological capacities and expertise in biological imaging in Africa, and improving the efficiency of collaborative research in biology, environment and health, addressing challenges faced by our colleagues today and by us tomorrow, such as climate change, biodiversity, biotic and abiotic stress, and emerging diseases.”
– Jean Salamero

A first major action: the BEAMS school in Dakar

Within this framework, France-BioImaging and its partners are organizing the first edition of the thematic school “Bioimaging for the study of biodiversity and ecosystem sustainability in Africa” (BEAMS), which will take place from November 16 to 27, 2026, at Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Dakar, Senegal.

This school will combine theoretical lectures, hands-on sessions, and scientific exchanges to address key challenges related to the study of African biodiversity and ecosystems using bioimaging technologies. It aims to contribute to the training of a new generation of scientists and to strengthen collaborations at regional and international levels.

The project has been selected by the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie within the INTENSCIF program.

The Light My Cells dataset, developed through the first France-BioImaging challenge, has been published in Nature Scientific Data ⁽¹⁾. It represents the first scientific outcome of this initiative which involved 31 contributors across the France-BioImaging network from Montpellier, Toulouse, Marseille, Paris, Rennes, Bordeaux and Strasbourg.

Predicting fluorescence from label-free imaging

Fluorescence microscopy is widely used across life and physical sciences to access specific molecular or structural information within samples. However, it is constrained by phototoxicity, photobleaching, and demanding sample preparation, which can limit its use in long-term observations and high-throughput experiments.

In contrast, transmitted light techniques, such as bright-field, phase contrast, and differential interference contrast, enable non-invasive imaging without labeling, preserving cell integrity over time. However, they do not provide direct molecular specificity.

The Light My Cells challenge builds on existing approaches and stimulates the development of deep learning methods to predict fluorescence signals from transmitted light images, opening new perspectives for label-free and less invasive imaging strategies

A large-scale dataset built across France-BioImaging

The publication introduces an open-access dataset developed within the France-BioImaging infrastructure.

It brings together 2,574 acquisition sets (unique fields of view), corresponding to a total of 56,984 two-dimensional microscopy images, derived from 30 independent studies collected across 8 imaging centers within the France-BioImaging infrastructure.

Each acquisition set combines transmitted light images with at least one fluorescence image targeting key subcellular structures, including the nucleus, mitochondria, tubulin, and actin. The diversity of samples, imaging systems, and experimental conditions supports the development of robust and generalizable models.

To ensure interoperability and reuse, all data were standardized using the OME-TIFF format and enriched with REMBI-compliant metadata, following FAIR data principles. A dedicated preprocessing pipeline further ensures consistency, including best-focus selection and harmonized data structure.

First scientific outcome of the Light My Cells challenge

The dataset is publicly available through the BioImage Archive, providing a reliable resource for the scientific community.

This publication represents the first scientific outcome of the Light My Cells challenge, providing a structured and openly accessible dataset designed to support the development and evaluation of deep learning models for fluorescence prediction from transmitted light microscopy.

⁽¹⁾Kauffmann, D., Gay, G., Mateos-Langerak, J. et al. 2D Multimodal Image Collection for Fluorescence Prediction from Transmitted Light Microscopy. Sci Data (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-026-07004-w

Registration is now open for the 1st France VolumeEM Scientific Conference, which will take place on September 28-29, 2026 in Bordeaux. This first edition will bring together the community around volume electron microscopy to explore three-dimensional imaging approaches across scales, from cellular to material sciences.

The conference will open with a plenary lecture by Isabelle Bonne (NUS Microscopy Core, Singapore) titled “Volume EM Today: From Cells to Materials”, followed by three thematic sessions:

• Session 1 – 3D Structures across scales, with Elsa Vennat (Paris-Saclay Mechanics Laboratory)
• Session 2 – Complementary Methods, Applications in Science and Industry, with Timm Weitkamp (Synchrotron SOLEIL)
• Session 3 – Life in Context, a Three-Dimensional Story, with Karel Mocaer (EMBL)

Participants are invited to contribute to the scientific programme:

• Submit an oral presentation to share innovative results, ongoing projects or original approaches
• Present your work as a poster during the Monday evening poster session

As additional highlight of the event, workshops will be held on September 29 afternoon (registration required, limited capacity)

Interested? Find the registration link, the submission guidelines and the complete program below!

Understanding how molecules move inside cells is a central question in cell biology, as diffusion underpins essential processes such as signaling, metabolism and intracellular transport. Yet, the cytoplasm is far from a simple fluid: it is a densely packed and highly structured environment filled with organelles, membranes and macromolecular assemblies.

In this study⁽¹⁾, researchers from Institut Jacques Monod and CentraleSupélec combine advanced microscopy techniques with biophysical modelling to investigate how this complex architecture impacts molecular mobility.

By linking quantitative imaging with theoretical approaches, they reveal that intracellular diffusion is strongly shaped by cytoplasmic organization.

Seeing and quantifying cytoplasmic organization

Using confocal microscopy, the researchers examined the spatial organization of the cytoplasm in living cells and identified regions with different levels of accessibility. By using freely diffusing GFP as a probe, they estimated the fraction of accessible volume and showed that the cytoplasm is heterogeneous at the subcellular scale.

These measurements revealed variations in crowding associated with the local distribution of intracellular structures, providing a quantitative description of the physical environment in which diffusion occurs.

Measuring diffusion across scales with FRAP and FCS

Diffusion was quantified by combining Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) and Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS), which probe complementary spatial and temporal scales.

The measurements show that GFP diffusion in the cytoplasm is significantly reduced compared to aqueous conditions and varies depending on local crowding. In particular, regions with higher obstacle density exhibit lower diffusion coefficients.

The data further indicate that nanoscale structures are the main contributors to these variations, while larger structures have a more limited and stable effect under the conditions tested.

From imaging to predictive models of the cytoplasm

By integrating experimental measurements with theoretical modelling, the study shows that the cytoplasm can be described as a porous medium. In this framework, nanoscale obstacles occupy a large fraction of the available space and largely determine the effective diffusion of macromolecules.

The model reproduces the experimental observations and provides a way to relate structural parameters to diffusion coefficients. It also enables predictions for other conditions, suggesting potential applications for studying intracellular transport of biomolecules, including small therapeutic compounds.

All microscopy experiments were conducted at the ImagoSeine facility (France-BioImaging Paris-Centre node).

(1) Destrian O, Moisan N, Mège RM, Ladoux B, Goyeau B, Chabanon M. Cytoplasmic crowding acts as a porous medium reducing macromolecule diffusion. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2026 Jan 27;123(4):e2519599123. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2519599123. Epub 2026 Jan 23. PMID: 41576074

Nous avons rencontré Wiame et Samira, qui nous ont fait le plaisir de répondre à nos questions pour mieux comprendre les enjeux et bénéfices de cet échange.

English-speaking readers, the interview can be found in English at the end of the article.

Pouvez-vous brièvement vous présenter ?

[Wiame] Je suis ingénieure en biotechnologie et doctorante au Centre de Recherche en Biotechnologie (CRBt) et à l’Ecole Nationale Supérieure en Biotechnologie en Algérie. En parallèle de mon doctorat, je suis impliquée dans la mise en place et le développement d’une plateforme de bioingénierie dédiée aux technologies émergentes, notamment en microfabrication pour le développement de systèmes lab-on-chip, en bio-impression 3D et en bioimagerie avancée. Je suis également cofondatrice de la startup MIMIC-AL, dont l’objectif est de développer et diffuser ces technologies.

[Samira] Ingénieure de recherche et responsable de la plateforme de microscopie photonique de l’IBENS, j’évolue dans cet univers depuis près de 20 ans. Cette solide expérience m’a permis de développer une expertise technique que j’ai toujours eu à cœur de partager avec la communauté scientifique. J’ai fait de la transmission de savoir le cœur de mon métier. Pour moi, l’expertise technique n’a de valeur que si elle est partagée. Aujourd’hui, en tant que co-coordinatrice du pôle Afrique de France-BioImaging, je mets ce savoir-faire au service de collaborations internationales comme le programme Imaging 4 All. Pour moi, la microscopie est avant tout un outil de transmission et d’ouverture, permettant de bâtir des ponts scientifiques durables et équitables.

Wiame, sur quel projet de recherche travaillez-vous actuellement ?

[Wiame] Dans le cadre de mon doctorat, je travaille sur le développement de biopuces (lab-on-chip) pour étudier l’édition génétique en conditions contrôlées. Ces dispositifs me permettent d’analyser le comportement cellulaire à l’aide de systèmes microfluidiques et de modèles 3D comme les sphéroïdes. Ce projet vise à mieux comprendre la dynamique cellulaire et à évaluer l’efficacité de ces systèmes dans des environnements proches du physiologique.

En parallèle, sur le plan professionnel, je contribue à la structuration et au développement de la plateforme de bioingénierie, avec un focus sur le développement de systèmes lab-on-chip pour des applications biotechnologiques ainsi que l’intégration et l’optimisation des technologies d’imagerie.

Comment avez-vous vécu le programme Imaging 4 All – Access Track ?

[Wiame] C’était une expérience très enrichissante, autant sur le plan technique que scientifique. J’ai pu accéder à des systèmes d’imagerie avancée, tester différentes approches et échanger avec des experts. Cela m’a aussi permis de prendre du recul sur nos pratiques et d’identifier des axes d’amélioration pour notre plateforme.

Samira, pourquoi est-il important pour vous d’accueillir des bénéficiaires de ce programme ?

[Samira] Dès le lancement d’Imaging 4 All, j’ai souhaité m’y engager car c’est une opportunité unique de transformer l’équité Nord-Sud en action concrète. Pour moi, réduire le fossé technologique signifie offrir à nos collaborateurs africains un accès réel à des technologies d’imagerie les plus avancées.

Mais au-delà de l’aspect technique, cet accueil est essentiel car il crée une réciprocité précieuse : en partageant notre expertise en microscopie, nous recevons en retour des perspectives scientifiques nouvelles et des problématiques de recherche différentes. C’est ce dialogue d’égal à égal qui fait la force de notre pôle Afrique au sein de France-BioImaging.

Pourquoi avoir choisi une plateforme France-BioImaging ?

[Wiame] France-BioImaging regroupe des plateformes reconnues pour leur expertise en imagerie avancée et leur accompagnement scientifique. C’était une opportunité idéale pour accéder à des technologies que nous n’avons pas encore sur notre site, tout en bénéficiant d’un encadrement technique solide, et pour intégrer notre plateforme dans un réseau international actif, en lien direct avec nos besoins en microscopie.

Comment la plateforme a-t-elle bénéficié de cette collaboration ?

Wiame, en quoi ce séjour a-t-il fait avancer votre projet ?

[Wiame] Ce séjour m’a permis de tester certaines approches sur des échantillons en lien avec mon travail, notamment en microscopie avancée et en expansion microscopy. J’ai également acquis des bases solides en métrologie et en évaluation des performances des microscopes, ce qui est essentiel pour garantir la qualité des données. Ces acquis sont directement utiles, à la fois pour mon projet de thèse et pour le développement de notre plateforme.

En quoi cette collaboration a-t-elle enrichi vos approches scientifiques ?

[Wiame] Cette collaboration m’a surtout permis de confronter nos approches à celles d’une plateforme plus spécialisée et d’avoir des retours concrets sur certaines pratiques. Les échanges avec les équipes m’ont aidée à mieux comprendre les limites de certaines technologies et à identifier des points à améliorer dans notre plateforme.

[Samira] Cette rencontre a été un véritable enrichissement scientifique pour nous. Cette collaboration nous a permis d’explorer la thématique des biopuces, un domaine jusqu’alors inédit sur notre site. L’adaptation de nos équipements à ces supports miniaturisés a non seulement diversifié notre champ d’expertise technique, mais a également stimulé l’évolution de nos protocoles d’acquisition. Au-delà de l’échange humain, cette rencontre a enrichi notre offre scientifique en intégrant de nouvelles méthodologies qui pourraient être bénéfiques à nos utilisateurs.

Comment Global BioImaging favorise-t-il des collaborations équilibrées ?

[Samira] Global BioImaging favorise des collaborations équilibrées en transformant la relation technique en un véritable partenariat de pairs. Si la plateforme offre l’accès aux technologies de pointe avancées, le chercheur visiteur enrichit en retour le site d’accueil par des thématiques novatrices. Notre expérience avec le programme Imaging 4 All l’illustre parfaitement : l’introduction de la thématique des biopuces, inédite sur notre site, a stimulé l’évolution de notre offre. Ce programme assure une reconnaissance scientifique mutuelle et transforme une mobilité ponctuelle en une collaboration de recherche durable et équitable.

Comment envisagez-vous la suite de cette collaboration ?

[Samira] La suite de cette collaboration s’annonce ambitieuse grâce à notre sélection au PiTCH Program de l’AMI (Africa Microscopy Initiative). Ce programme nous permet de passer d’un échange technique ponctuel à un véritable partenariat pédagogique durable. Notre objectif est de co-construire un module de formation structuré en bioimagerie. En devenant acteurs au sein du réseau AMI, nous ne nous contentons plus de partager une technologie, nous souhaitons mettre en place ensemble un pôle de compétences local autonome afin de faire profiter durablement à l’ensemble de la communauté de chercheurs en Afrique.

Samira, en tant que cofondatrice du pôle Afrique de FBI, comment ce type de collaboration contribue-t-il aux missions du pôle ?

[Samira] Ce projet est le cœur même de notre mission : créer des ponts concrets et durables. Cette collaboration prouve que nos plateformes ne sont pas seulement des lieux de haute technologie, mais des hubs de coopération internationale. En passant de l’accueil Imaging 4All à la formation de mentors PiTCH de l’AMI par exemple, nous transformons une expertise locale en un levier d’autonomie pour nos partenaires africains. C’est ainsi que nous contribuons, pas à pas, à bâtir une communauté scientifique plus équitable.