The Inorganic Chemical Biology (ICB) team of the Institute of Chemistry for Life and Health Sciences (i-CLeHS) at Chimie ParisTech–PSL has been awarded the “FRM Team 2026” label by the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale. This prestigious distinction, accompanied by €350,000 in funding over three years, recognizes the excellence of its research at the interface of chemistry and biology for health applications, particularly in oncology.

A mark of excellence for high-impact health research. Granted by the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale, the “FRM Team” label distinguishes leading academic teams developing innovative programs in biomedical research. Since its creation in 2005, the program has become a major player in funding biomedical research in France, with €285 million awarded to 625 teams. It currently supports around forty teams, providing them with the resources to explore original approaches and foster the emergence of new scientific concepts.

Research at the interface of disciplines to better understand living systems. Led by Professor Gilles Gasser, the ICB team develops approaches at the crossroads of inorganic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and biology. Its work aims to understand, identify, and influence biological processes in living cells using metal-based compounds. This interdisciplinary approach opens up promising perspectives, particularly for the development of innovative cancer treatment strategies.

A structuring support to accelerate scientific innovation. The €350,000 funding associated with this label will enable the team to further develop new approaches for the selective delivery of anticancer metal complexes. Beyond the financial support, the “FRM Team” label is a strong mark of excellence within the academic landscape and serves as a lever for securing additional funding at both national and European levels.

Professor Gilles Gasser, how does obtaining the “FRM Team 2026” label strengthen and structure your team’s current research?

“First of all, we are extremely grateful to the FRM and to all its donors. This substantial funding will allow us to accelerate the development of our approach by recruiting a new postdoctoral researcher who will be fully dedicated to this project for three years.”

What does the support of the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale represent for you and your team, both scientifically and strategically?

“Beyond the financial aspect—which is almost essential given the high costs of research at the interface between chemistry and biology—this label is a recognition for the entire group, not only the current members but also all the alumni whose work made it possible to obtain crucial preliminary results.”

Concretely, what advances or applications will this funding help accelerate, particularly in the development of new anticancer approaches?

“Today, the vast majority of chemotherapeutic treatments are based on platinum, a heavy, rare, and expensive metal that causes significant side effects for patients. This is because these compounds target both healthy and cancerous cells. In this project, we aim to develop new anticancer compounds based on less toxic, less expensive, and more abundant metals, such as iron or copper, which are also essential to living organisms, including humans. Our goal is to deliver them much more selectively to cancer cells using innovative delivery techniques, thereby reducing side effects.”

Learn more about the Institute of Chemistry for Life and Health Sciences

Learn more about the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM)