Labex SysMics
SysMics (Towards Systems Medicine Based on Multi-Omics), labelled as a Labex in December 2024 as part of the NExT I-SITE project call, is a multidisciplinary initiative at the intersection of biology & health and digital sciences. It is structured around four complementary research areas:
- Implement and consolidate advanced methods and technologies for large-scale screening of omics data
- Organise interoperable infrastructures for the secure sharing of health research data, in line with international open science recommendations
- Develop new computational models for the integration and interpretation of multi-omics data
- Create demonstrators for the integration of multi-scale (longitudinal) data.
Laboratories involved:
Labex SysMics brings together 11 research laboratories in the fields of biology, chemistry, computer science and health at Nantes Université:
- ITX-lab – Institut du Thorax
- CRCI2NA – Nantes-Angers Cancer and Immunology Research centre
- CR2TI – Centre for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology
- RMeS – Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton
- TENS – The Enteric Nervous System in gut and brain disorders
- PhAN – Physiopathology of Nutritional Adaptations
- TaRGeT – Translational Research in Gene Therapy
- CEISAM – Molecular Chemistry Research Laboratory
- LS2N – Nantes Digital Sciences Laboratory
- SFR Bonamy (BioCore) – Bonamy Federative Research Structure
- CIC – Clinical Investigation Centre (Nantes' university hospital)
Contact
Richard REDON
Head of Labex SysMics
Raluca TEUSAN
Deputy Director of Labex SysMics
SysMics uses holistic approaches based on the integration of multi-omics data (genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, etc.) to understand the biological and molecular mechanisms behind human pathologies. The aim is to build numerical models to predict the progression of these pathologies and propose innovative medical approaches for better treatment. By bringing together researchers from across Nantes Université to integrate multi-omics data, SysMics aims to speed up the adoption of systems biology approaches in medical practice, in order to:
- Model disease trajectories using mathematical and artificial intelligence approaches to improve digital twin production
- Develop in-silico diagnostic tools based on open data and open-source algorithms
- Discover new biomarkers and therapeutic targets to accelerate drug development
- Design decision-support tools based on disease risk prediction to promote innovative clinical trials in precision medicine
The aim of Labex SysMics is to address these challenges and develop new systems medicine approaches. Our main objectives are as follows:
- Combine our multi-omics research programmes, which are applied to cardiovascular diseases, immune disorders, developmental biology and cancer
- Build predictive models of disease evolution by integrating multi-omics data
- Develop international education in systems biology at the Nantes Université Graduate School in Health Sciences and Technologies
- Promote the use of multi-omics approaches in translational research and clinical practice as part of a precision medicine strategy
SysMics offers a unique opportunity to develop an attractive biomedical ecosystem by combining computational biology, bioinformatics and clinical research, and to establish Nantes Université as a leader in systems medicine and digital health.
Labex SysMics builds on the work of the NExT cluster of the same name, which operated between 2018 and 2024. The SysMics cluster has succeeded in uniting the scientific community in genomics and bioinformatics in Nantes around a common goal: anticipating the emergence of systems medicine — a holistic approach to medicine based on integrating massive amounts of clinical and biological data.
In particular, the cluster has promoted the development and sharing of key infrastructures such as a massive sequencing platform (GenoA), a bioinformatics hub (BiRD) and a clinical data warehouse. Through GenoA and BiRD, the NExT community has the means to acquire, test, develop and apply the latest technologies in genotyping by sequencing, single-cell sequencing and microbiome analysis. The cluster has supported innovative pilot projects in immunology, onco-haematology and the pathophysiology of cardiovascular, metabolic and developmental diseases.
Key dates
- March 2025: opening of the first SysMics call for projects: Master's/doctoral programmes 2025–2026
- April 2025: official start of Labex SysMics
- April–May 2025: inauguration/presentation of the Labex to the NExT community
- 6 October 2025: SysMics kick-off
- September 2025: opening of the Junior Post-doctoral Fellowship call for applications
