•    New Viral Adaptation and Spillover Unit 

The Virus Sensing and Signaling five-year unit (024930), led by Nolwenn Jouvenet, has come to the end of its term and will be closed on August 31, 2026. 

Following the favorable opinion issued by the Scientific Council in March 2026, in July 2026 the Board of Governors approved the proposal by the President to establish the Viral Adaptation and Spillover (Adaptation virale et saut d'espèces) Unit as from September 1, 2026. 

This unit within the Department of Virology will be led by Nolwenn Jouvenet.

The unit has been established for a ten-year period with an interim assessment by the Scientific Council after a first five-year term.

More information in memo 053 (in French)

•    New Infectious Disease Epidemiology in Vulnerable Populations five-year unit (U5)

Following the favorable opinion issued by the Scientific Council in March 2026, in July 2026 the Board of Governors approved the proposal by the President to establish the Infectious Disease Epidemiology in Vulnerable Populations (Epidémiologie des maladies infectieuses chez les populations vulnérables) five-year unit (U5) as from September 1, 2026, for a non-renewable five-year term.

This unit within the Department of Global Health will be led by Yusuke Shimakawa.

More information in memo 055 (in French)

•    New Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Analytics Unit

The Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Analytics five-year group (024534), led by Michael White, has come to the end of its term and will be closed on August 31, 2026.

Following the favorable opinion issued by the Scientific Council in March 2026, in July 2026 the Board of Governors approved the proposal by the President to establish the Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Analytics (Epidémiologie et analyse des maladies infectieuses) Unit as from September 1, 2026.

This unit within the Department of Global Health will be led by Michael White.

The unit has been established for a ten-year period with an interim assessment by the Scientific Council after a first five-year term.

More information in memo 056 (in French)

•    Extension of the term of the Chemistry of Biomolecules Unit

Following the meeting of the Scientific Council in June 2026, the Chemistry of Biomolecules Unit (024204), led by Laurence Mulard, has been extended to April 30, 2031, when it will come to the end of its second and final five-year term.

More information in memo 057 (in French)

•    Appointment of scientific coordinators for the BSL3 Fernbach laboratory 

In view of the Institut Pasteur's regulation on biological safety in BSL3 containment laboratories, updated in December 2020:

Giulia Manina has been appointed as scientific coordinator of the BSL3 Fernbach laboratory on the ground floor of the Fernbach building.

Marine Oberkampf De Dabrun has been appointed as deputy scientific coordinator of the BSL3 Fernbach laboratory on the ground floor of the Fernbach building.

More information in decision memo 1492 (in French)

•    Closure of the Computational Systems Biomedicine laboratory

The Computational Systems Biomedicine laboratory (021450), led by Benno Schwikowski, has come to the end of its term and will be closed on July 31, 2026.

More information in decision memo 1493 (in French)

•    Appointment of the acting Head of the Ecology and Emergence of Arthropod-Borne Pathogens Unit

Richard Paul has been appointed as the acting Head of the Ecology and Emergence of Arthropod-Borne Pathogens Unit (024320) from September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2028.

More iformation in decision memo1494 (in French)

•    The Institutional Biosafety Committee (CIB) becomes the Institutional Biosafety and Risk Assessment Committee (CIBER) 

All research conducted at the Institut Pasteur must comply with applicable regulations and internal procedures.

The Vice-President Corporate Social Responsibility and Technical Resources is responsible for biosafety and biosecurity at the Institut Pasteur. The Department of Corporate Social Responsibility and Technical Resources implements these regulations in conjunction with the Risk Prevention Department, whose role is to help analyze and assess the risks associated with research activities, especially in the area of biosafety and biosecurity. Working in coordination with the relevant scientific teams, the Risk Prevention Department provides support and assistance to the teams and the Institut Pasteur as a whole. The Risk Prevention Department also proposes alternative solutions if a protocol cannot be implemented for regulatory reasons. Finally, the Risk Prevention Department works in coordination with the Legal Affairs Department to help ensure compliance with applicable regulatory provisions for risk prevention.

The various legal and regulatory obligations in this field are complex and constantly changing, and this can result in difficulties implementing projects.

For this reason, in February 2024, the Institut Pasteur set up an Institutional Biosafety Committee (CIB) (see organization memo 0145) to foster dialog, liaise with teams and adopt remedial processes where necessary.

To meet the Institut Pasteur's current needs, the committee's remit has been expanded. Complex and strategic projects need to be analyzed from a multidisciplinary perspective so that risks can be identified and managed and projects can be implemented successfully.

See organization memo 0150 to find out more about the missions, composition and operation of the CIBER (in French)

•    Appointment of the Chair of the Institutional Biosafety and Risk Assessment Committee (CIBER)

As indicated in organization memo 0150, Christophe Préhaud has been appointed as chair of the Institutional Biosafety and Risk Assessment Committee (CIBER) as from July 1, 2026.

More information in decision memo 1473 (in French)

•    Appointment of the members of the Institutional Biosafety and Risk Assessment Committee (CIBER)

As provided in organization memo 0150, the following people have been appointed as members of the Institutional Biosafety and Risk Assessment Committee (CIBER) as from July 1, 2026:

Members of the Institut Pasteur management team

• Nathalie Denoyés 
• Patrick Trieu-Cuot

Scientific members representing the scientific departments, the Hearing Institute and the core facilities

• Permanent members
o    Philippe Afonso
o    Nathalie Aulner
o    Sabrina Coqueran 
o    Laurent Dacheux 
o    Barbara Gayraud-Morel 
o    Meriem Paris 
o    Sabine Thiberge
• Alternate members
o    Jean Jaubert A
o    Anne-Sophie Le Guern
o    Claire Pujol

Members from support departments

• Romain Girod
• Fanny Momboisse 
• Anne-Laure Morin

More information in decision memo 1474 (in French)