PRESENTATION

The Lille Center for Infection and Immunity (CIIL) is the largest joint research unit in the field of biomedical research on infection and immunity (University of Lille, CNRS UMR9017, Inserm U1019, Institut Pasteur of Lille, and Lille University Hospital) north of Paris. It brings together 11 research teams and more than 220 members.

CIIL develops a research program spanning from fundamental knowledge of the molecular and cellular mechanisms of infectious and chronic inflammatory respiratory diseases to the development and improvement of diagnostics, as well as vaccines and treatments. This vision requires the deployment of an interdisciplinary approach by bringing together complementary expertise covering a wide range of fields, from epidemiology, molecular and cellular virology, bacteriology, and parasitology, to the immunological bases of infectious and non-infectious diseases and clinical applications. CIIL members study, in particular, host–pathogen interactions in bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases, the immune response to these infections, and immune dysfunctions associated with non-infectious diseases such as allergic asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The main infectious diseases studied include blastocystosis, whooping cough, COVID-19, cryptosporidiosis, influenza, hepatitis E, digestive tract infections including shigellosis and opportunistic infections such as those caused by Klebsiella species, Lyme disease, pneumococcal pneumonia, malaria, plague, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis, schistosomiasis, and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

CIIL members have access to the expertise and state-of-the-art equipment of four in-house core facilities and technological platforms located on the campus of the Institut Pasteur of Lille and across the Lille metropolitan area (Lille University Hospital and the Faculty of Science and Technology), some of which are grouped within an inter-site service unit (Lille Platforms in Health Biology). Together with the INFINITE unit, which specializes in digestive and systemic inflammatory diseases, we are launching a project for an interdisciplinary federative institute (i4Lille) in partnership with numerous local units and through international collaborations (e.g., with KU Leuven). We collaborate with many teams worldwide, notably through the Pasteur Institute network (Paris, Madagascar, Montevideo), and we are open to any partnership that brings complementary or synergistic expertise and interests. We are also always happy to welcome young scientists, as well as more experienced researchers, who are motivated and talented and wish to develop an original and ambitious project aligned with our research themes. Do not hesitate to contact us!

Key figures

• 226 members (or 242 including Master’s students)
• 11 research teams
• 75 researchers, faculty members, and hospital practitioners
• 69 engineers, technicians, and administrative staff
• 16 Master’s students
• 44 PhD students
• 35 Postdoctoral researchers / Researchers
• 3 Emeritus professors
• 25 nationalities

External Scientific Advisory Board

• 16 Master’s students
• 44 PhD students
• 35 Postdoctoral researchers / Researchers
• 3 Emeritus professors
• 25 nationalities

External Scientific Advisory Board

CIIL relies on external scientific advice to support the implementation of its strategic vision and to maintain a high level of excellence. The Scientific Advisory Board is currently composed of nationally and internationally renowned experts: Ali Amara, Matteo Bonazzi, Christophe Combadière, Friedrich Frischknecht, Christel Menet, Florence Niedergang, Florence Séjourné.

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is responsible for organizing, facilitating, and monitoring the work of the working groups, analyzing needs and setting priorities in order to make recommendations to the Executive Committee (team leaders and management), and strengthening cohesion within the unit. The current working groups focus on outreach and communication, budgeting, teaching and training, infrastructure, unit life, and strategy. The members of the Steering Committee are: 

Sabine Blin, Sébastien Bontemps-Gallo, Karine Serrure, Laurence Cocquerel, Alexis Denhez, Mathieu Gissot, Arnaud Machelart, Sabrina Marion, Nathalie Mielcarek, Karin Seron, Aurélie Tasiemski, Céline Wichlacz

Laboratory Council

It has an advisory role. The unit management may consult the Laboratory Council on all measures related to the organization and proper functioning of the research unit that are likely to have an impact on staff situations and working conditions.
Members: to be renewed in the first quarter of 2026.