France-BioImaging is launching a call to have up to two new Nodes joining the infrastructure.

In 2022, France-BioImaging gathers 21 biological imaging facilities and 54 R&D teams specialized in biological imaging (see https://france-bioimaging.org/). It is structured in 6 local Nodes (Bordeaux, Bretagne-Loire, Ile-de-France-Sud, Marseille, Montpellier, Paris) and one transversal Node dedicated to bioimage informatics (IPDM). France-BioImaging is also the French node of Euro-BioImaging ERIC (see https://www.eurobioimaging.eu/).

The objectives of France-BioImaging are to promote the dissemination of the latest advances in all technologies and methods related to biological imaging, and their adoption by the users of the facilities that constitute the infrastructure.

In order to expand its technology and expertise portfolio and to provide the best possible geographical coverage to life scientists across France, France-BioImaging invites node candidates to submit their letter of intent here before May 31st, 2022.

Node candidates should:

  • Be made up of imaging facilities and R&D teams specialized in biological imaging, not necessarily grouped on the same campus but with a territorial logic.
  • Demonstrate readiness to provide open user access. The facilities must be open to the outside world beyond the regional level, i.e. to the national and international levels. Each Facility must have a valid IBiSA label, or must be in the process to have their integration in an already existing IBiSA facility validated in 2023, or must obtain this label in 2023. Each facility should have a structured organization and cost accounting. The facilities must have a reservation website for access to the equipment and a user training program. The facilities will be required to have or commit to a data management plan.
  • Gather R&D teams with a high degree of innovation and demonstrate a willingness to collaborate with the facilities. They must explain and demonstrate their technology and/or know-how transfer methods, particularly towards the local platforms, but not exclusively.
  • Bring real added value in relation to the current status of France-BioImaging, whether in terms of technologies, methodologies, scientific themes, novel user communities,… (for more information, visit the FBI website and consult the service offer). This is a key criteria.
  • Have an integrated and effective governance model.

More information on the selection criteria, expected commitments and documentation that needs to be provided can be found here.

Node selection will be done via a two-step process:

  • a letter of intent (deadline May 31st, 2022): the form to be completed is available here
  • a full application (deadline September 30th, 2022).

Applications will be reviewed at both steps by an International Board and decisions will be communicated at the end of 2022.

Submit your letter of intent here

If at any time of the application process you have questions, please feel free to contact the France-BioImaging coordination Team by sending an email to contact@france-bioimaging.org.

We are looking forward to receiving your letter of intent!

Euro-BioImaging first open call for user projects is open! If you have an idea for a biological or biomedical imaging project that you, your student or your close colleague could carry out in one of Euro-BioImaging Nodes, including France-BioImaging, now is the time to make this project come true with financial support from the Euro-BioImaging Access Fund.

How it works:

Submit your project proposal through the Euro-BioImaging web portal between October 20 and December 15, 2021, and indicate that you want to apply for the Euro-BioImaging Access Fund in order to be considered for a grant of up to 5.000 Euros to access the imaging services at a Euro-BioImaging Node. Projects will be evaluated by a committee of independent reviewers. Successful applicants will be notified by late January 2022 and successful projects should be started before July 2022.

What the funding covers:

The Euro-BioImaging Access Fund covers the user’s travel and accommodation costs as well as access and consumable costs at the imaging facilities that are part of Euro-BioImaging Nodes. For remote access projects shipment costs are also covered. Each successful applicant is eligible for up to 5.000 Euros of support.

Who is eligible:

All academic scientists, regardless of gender, nationality, home institution, career phase, or field of interest, are eligible to apply. We strongly encourage early career researchers to apply for this grant.

Projects should include transnational access to a Euro-BioImaging Node, i.e. the applicant’s home institution is in a different country than the Node where the project is to be performed. Due to the current sanitary situation, projects with non transnational access are elligible but transnational access will have priority.

All the external users/collaborators of France BioImaging facilities/labs are eligible:

  • any users from outside the institutional perimeter of France BioImaging nodes (i.e. from outside the following institutions: Aix-Marseille Université, Université de Montpellier, Université de Bordeaux, Université de Nantes, Université de Rennes 1, Université Paris-Saclay, Université de Paris, Université PSL -Paris Sciences & Lettres-, Généthon, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Pasteur) who would like to use imaging technologies in one of FBI nodes: Paris Centre, Paris Ile-de-France-Sud, Marseille, Montpellier, Bordeaux, Bretagne-Loire. They can be French or international users – EU and non-EU
  • or users from a France BioImaging regional Node who want to access an equipment available in another FBI regional node.

Evaluation:

All applications will be evaluated for scientific excellence by a committee of independent reviewers. Selected projects will be assessed for technical feasibility and if needed receive technical advice from the Node providing the service.

How to apply:

Applicants are invited to visit our website to discover the range of technologies provided by Euro-BioImaging Nodes. Applicants will then follow the user access process described here: https://www.eurobioimaging.eu/about-us/how-to-access and indicate that they wish to apply for the Euro-BioImaging Access Fund in the application form.

The detailed procedure to apply to access one of France BioImaging facilities is available here: https://france-bioimaging.org/access/

Full details: https://www.eurobioimaging.eu/about-us/funding-user-access

Questions? Contact us!