Labex DHOLMEN

DHOLMEN (Development in Hemato-OncoLogy and precision nuclear MEdiciNe), certified Labex (Laboratory of Excellence) in December 2024 as part of the NExT I-SITE call for projects, brings together a multidisciplinary scientific community with complementary expertise (SDG 17). Comprising 20 internationally renowned academic teams, 17 international academic collaborations and 20 industrial partners, Labex DHOLMEN is built around a unique infrastructure centred on the internationally recognized Arronax and state-of-the-art imaging platforms.

Building on technological advances and previous clinical trials, DHOLMEN will strengthen synergies between partners by addressing interdisciplinary scientific issues around 3 themes:

  1. Artificial intelligence: prognostic biomarkers and risk assessment
  2. Theranostics: combined diagnosis and therapy in nuclear medicine
  3. Targeted Alpha-Therapy.

as well as organisational and medico-economic issues, thus ensuring a holistic approach to innovation in healthcare.

These questions will be developed in six scientific Work Packages, complemented by three structuring Work Packages (Teaching/Education, Development/Technology Transfer, Site Structuring).

Laboratories involved:

Laboratories / teams in italics are involved in the project because of their long-standing collaborations with other DHOLMEN laboratories/teams. They will provide their own funding.

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Contact


Françoise Kraeber-Bodéré,
Head of Labex DHOLMEN

Marie Hélène GAUGLER
Deputy Director of Labex DHOLMEN


The DHOLMEN consortium’s ambition for 2027-2030 is to support Nantes Université’s strategy by fostering synergies between researchers and clinicians and paving the way for the creation of a Therapeutic Research Institute in Precision Nuclear Oncology and Haematology. This institute will bring together a multidisciplinary scientific community.

This institute will strengthen Nantes Université’s global presence in a highly competitive international landscape, making it an attractive destination for outstanding French and international master’s and doctoral students, as well as post-docs, researchers and doctors.

The Institute will consist of a single infrastructure (SDG9), located between the Arronax site and the new Quartier Hospitalo-Universitaire (QHU), next to a new cancer research building, a new cyclotron producing Astate-211, a very high-sensitivity, large-field-of-view scanner (LAFOV PET/CT) and Targeted Radionuclide Therapy care facilities.

To conduct a fundamental, translational and clinical research programme to advance precision medicine in haematology and nuclear oncology, DHOLMEN will be based on:

  • Interdisciplinary research bringing together experts in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, management and economics
  • Translational research integrating teaching, education and technology transfer
  • Precision medicine by developing innovative diagnostic and therapeutic tools in haematology and nuclear oncology
  • Global issues, tackling organisational, medico-economic challenges and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Labex DHOLMEN is a continuation of several structuring projects:

  • The NucSan (2010–2013) regional network (Nuclear for Health), which was funded by the Pays de la Loire region, aimed to accelerate multidisciplinary research in nuclear oncology at the Arronax facility
  • The Labex IRON (2012–2024) national network, which was funded by French National Research Agency (ANR) (Investments for the Future) to develop innovative radiopharmaceuticals for molecular imaging in oncology and neurology, and cancer therapy using targeted radiotherapy
  • The EquipEx (Equipment of Excellence) ArronaxPlus project (2012–2021), which was funded by the ANR (Investments for the Future) to establish platforms for the benefit of the academic and industrial scientific community specialising in nuclear physics, radiochemistry and nuclear medicine
  • The IRC (Integrated Research Cluster) TransForMed (2018–2024), a local network funded by the NExT I-SITE to coordinate and structure the research activities of members of the Arronax Nantes community around translational research in nuclear medicine
  • The IRC l’Héma-NExT (2018–2024), a local network funded by the NExT I-SITE focused on understanding, preventing, and treating blood diseases (mature B hemopathies)
  • The SIRIC ILIAD (Integrated Cancer Research Site) (2018–2027) is a regional network funded by INCa. It focuses on integrated, innovative, multidisciplinary research to detect and treat high-risk patients, and to help them stay in employment (8 DHOLMEN teams are involved in ILIAD)
  • The RHU OPERANDI (Hospital-University Research) (2022–2027), a national network funded by the ANR, focusing on innovative radiotherapy approaches targeting neuroendocrine and liver tumours (6 DHOLMEN teams involved in OPERANDI)

DHOLMEN’s partners have already established an active policy of international partnerships, thanks to various structuring projects in the past or currently in progress. This policy will be pursued and strengthened through:

  • Participation of DHOLMEN teams in European projects as partners or leaders. Arronax is a partner in the PRISMAP project, which is due to be extended beyond 2025. The CRCI2NA led the COST NOAR project, which was completed in 2024. The project is now continuing with the World Astatine Community. Arronax, CRCI2NA and ICO are partners in the IHI Accelerate.EU project (2024-2029).
  • Partnerships between DHOLMEN teams and international industrial groups. Major collaborations with international manufacturers in the field of clinical trials; the establishment of Curium PET France, a member of the Curium Group, a world leader in radiopharmaceutical products, at the Arronax site; the future establishment of Framatome, an international leader in nuclear energy, in the nearly 100,000 m2 Saint-Herblain Biopark project dedicated to radiopharmaceutical and bioproduction activities, close to the Arronax site.

Key dates

  • 1 April 2025: administrative launch of the project
  • 5 May 2025: Labex kick-off meeting
Labex DHOLMEN receives funding from the NExT I-SITE and from the French government, managed by the French National Research Agency (ANR), under the France 2030 Programme (reference ANR-16-IDEX-0007).
Updated on 25 November 2025.