Overview

France-BioImaging (FBI) provides access to cutting-edge imaging technologies and expertise through its national network of core facilities. The “User Access Support” is a rolling support scheme designed to facilitate rapid and flexible access to FBI services for users external to the infrastructure.

This scheme aims to strengthen openness, foster exploratory and innovative projects, and enhance the national and international impact of France-BioImaging.

Access to the application form

Who can apply?

The call is open to all academic users external to France-BioImaging (any users from outside the institutional perimeter of France-BioImaging nodes), from France or abroad, or users coming from one FBI Node to access another.

Projects must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Require imaging technologies not available in the user’s local environment;
  • Rely on innovative or rarely available imaging technologies;
  • Require specific expertise (e.g. advanced methodologies, biotechnology knowledge, data processing);
  • Benefit from a specific scientific environment, potentially collaborative (e.g. neuroscience, cancer research).

Type of support

  • Coverage of platform usage costs only (no personnel or travel costs);
  • Maximum support of €2,500 (Vat excl.) per project;
  • Direct payment of platform invoices by France-BioImaging-Core (UAR2057 CNRS UM);
  • Support granted until exhaustion of the annual budget.

Travel and accommodation costs must be covered by the user.

Projects undertaken by the F-BIAS facility are not eligible.

Call modality

  • Rolling call: applications can be submitted at any time;
  • Evaluation frequency: decisions are taken every month by FBI Executive Board;
  • Access must be carried out within six months following submission;
  • Annual budget for 2026: €50,000.

Mandatory prior contact with FBI platforms

Before submitting an application, applicants must contact the relevant FBI platform(s) in order to:

  • Identify the appropriate FBI service offering(s) to be mobilized;
  • Confirm the technical feasibility of the project;
  • Obtain a preliminary cost estimate (pre-quotation) for platform usage.

Applications submitted without prior contact and a pre-quotation will not be considered.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted electronically via the online application form below.

Applicants will be asked to provide:

  • A brief description of the access project;
  • The imaging technologies and services requested;
  • The targeted FBI platform(s);
  • The estimated platform costs (pre-quotation);
  • The planned timeline (within 6 months).
Fill the application form now

Evaluation process

Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis by France-BioImaging, based on:

  • Adequacy with FBI services;
  • Technical feasibility and realism of the budget;
  • Added value of access to France-BioImaging.

Applicants are informed of the decision after each monthly evaluation round.

After access: user obligations

At the end of the on-site project, supported users must:

  1. Complete a mandatory post-access satisfaction survey (via Euro-BioImaging Web Portal). This feedback is essential for service optimization, activity monitoring, and reporting.
  2. Acknowledge France-BioImaging in all resulting publications, using the mandatory wording below:

“The study was supported by France-BioImaging (ANR-24-INBS-0005 FBI BIOGEN, https://ror.org/01y7vt929) User Access Support Scheme”.

Monitoring and reporting

All projects selected for FBI financial support will be registered a posteriori on the Euro-BioImaging Web Portal for monitoring and reporting purposes.

Need help?

For scientific or technical questions, applicants are encouraged to contact the relevant FBI platform(s).

For general questions about the call or eligibility: caroline.thiriet@france-bioimaging.org