A Pioneering Strategy
IHU RespirERA adopts a unique collaborative strategy, combining the expertise of its teams with the use of the PACA region as a veritable ‘living laboratory’ to better understand and treat respiratory diseases.
The Holistic Approach
IHU RespirERA adopts a holistic and collaborative approach to combating respiratory diseases, bringing together multiple specialised teams and synergising respiratory, aging, and environmental biomarkers. This integrated strategy drives key advancements in research and healthcare, aiming for more targeted treatments tailored to each patient's profile.
Liquid biopsy, which enables access to biomarkers found in bodily fluids, reduces the need for invasive diagnostics. Additionally, partnerships with organisations like Inria leverage AI for data analysis. By combining biological, technological, and industrial expertise, supported by the European Liquid Biopsy Society, IHU RespirERA ensures a comprehensive and sustainable response to respiratory disease challenges, improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Assessing biological age
The evaluation of biological age, using methylation signatures, telomere length measurement, and immunosenescence analysis, is an innovative method for better patient management.
In research, this approach advances understanding of pathophysiology and enables the development of in vitro models of pulmonary aging.
In prevention and care, it enhances early detection, monitoring, and management of at-risk patients. Furthermore, biological age can serve as an inclusion criterion for clinical trials, facilitating more personalised and tailored treatments.
PACA: a "living laboratory"
Based in Nice, IHU RespirERA uses the PACA region as a “living laboratory” to study the impact of aging and environmental factors on respiratory health. This region, marked by an aging population and high pollution levels, serves as a predictor of future national and European epidemiological challenges. It also offers exceptional infrastructure, including 14 research laboratories, a leading pulmonology department, a pathology unit recognized as a "center of excellence" and an AI hub at Inria.
These resources allow the institute to conduct real-world studies on environmental changes and develop innovative strategies to combat respiratory diseases in the face of increasing environmental degradation.
Discover our flagship projects that are shaping the future of respiratory health research and care.
At the request of the French National Cancer Institute, IHU RespirERA is developing the information system (IS) that will support the national roll-out of lung cancer screening from 2025.
This IS is the foundation of clinical, imaging and biological databases, facilitating the set-up of clinical trials dedicated to (i) “go-to” strategies to reach at-risk populations, (ii) exposome analysis to assess environmental and lifestyle factors influencing lung cancer risk, and (iii) the application of artificial intelligence to imaging and biomarker identification for enhanced diagnostic accuracy.
Understanding the Impact of Aging on Respiratory Diseases
We explore how aging influences the development of chronic respiratory diseases and cancer, as well as the response to treatments like immunotherapy. Our research focuses on key mechanisms such as cellular senescence, inflammation, telomere dysfunction, and the decline of autophagy processes. These efforts aim to better understand and prevent the effects of aging on respiratory health.
Studying the Impact of the Exposome on the Development of Respiratory Diseases
The institute examines the impact of environmental factors on the development of respiratory diseases, with a particular focus on air pollution, active and passive smoking, and the effects of e-cigarettes. This research aims to shed light on the links between these exposures and pulmonary aging, contributing to the prevention and treatment of environment-related respiratory diseases.
Developing Personalized Treatments for Effective Respiratory Disease Care
We are working to design tailored treatments for chronic respiratory diseases and lung cancer. By analyzing biomarkers and data from environmental, social, and biological factors, our teams are developing personalized medical approaches. We are also establishing a digital platform to improve patient monitoring and optimize therapeutic decisions through structured data.
Using Cutting-Edge Technologies to Improve the Diagnosis and Treatment of Respiratory Diseases
IHU RespirERA relies on cutting-edge technologies to revolutionize research and care in respiratory health. Our teams utilize biobanks, data platforms (DATA), and artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze complex and multidimensional information. These tools help improve diagnosis, personalize treatments, and facilitate patient monitoring. By structuring and leveraging data, we enhance clinicians' ability to make informed decisions and accelerate scientific advancements.
Excellence in Education and Training
IHU RespirERA is committed to addressing the challenges of respiratory diseases through innovative training programs that combine innovation, clinical expertise, and awareness. The institute offers prestigious courses such as the European MSc in Molecular Pathology and the MSc in Biobanks and Complex Data Management, in partnership with international leaders. Masterclasses on liquid biopsy and advanced training in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques complement this offering, catering to the needs of healthcare professionals. Finally, with its transdisciplinary initiatives and unique "Living Lab" the institute integrates environmental, ethical, and societal issues to promote sustainable and collaborative respiratory health.
