Partners

RARe National Research Infrastructure

CIRM is designated as an INRAE Collective Research Infrastructure (ISC). It coordinates the microbial pillar of the RARe national infrastructure, which brings together the French BRCs of interest for agronomic and environmental research. The microbial pillar  consists of:

• CIRM : CIRM's 5 microbial resource centers (CIRM-BIA, CIRM BP, CIRM-CF, CIRM-CFBP and CIRM levure) specialize in the conservation, distribution and characterization of pure strains of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, yeasts) of interest to agronomic, agri-food, biotechnological and environmental research.
• CRBIP : CRBIP is an internationally recognized transdisciplinary biobank whose mission is to preserve microbial bioresources and make them accessible for research, training and quality control purposes. It comprises the Institut Pasteur Collection (CIP), the Pasteur Cyanobacterial Cultures (PCC) and the Human Health Microbiota Collections (CHIP).
• CRB FAN : The CRB FAN (Fungi Agri-food eNvironment) houses and distributes filamentous fungi and yeasts isolated mainly from agricultural, agri-food and environmental substrates.
• SAMBO : SAMBO is the biobank of the INRAE MetaGenoPolis research unit, which manages a collection of microbiota and DNA for the gut microbiome.

The European Research Infrastructure MIRRI

CIRM is a founding member of the European research infrastructure MIRRI (Microbial Resources Research Infrastructure) which brings together more than 50 collections of microorganisms in 11 European countries and organises access to more than 400,000 strains of fungi, algae, yeast, bacteria and associated characterisation services. In December 2021, MIRRI was listed as a Landmark on the ESFRI roadmap. The infrastructure is recognised as a major element of the competitiveness of the European space.

CIRM is actively participating in IS-MIRRI-21 (Implementation and Sustainability of Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure for the 21st Century) a Horizon 2020 project that aims to install MIRRI as a fully functional infrastructure and to ensure its long-term sustainability as an ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium).

Affiliation of CIRM with international collection networks

CIRM is affiliated with several international networks such as WDCM (World Data Center for Microorganisms) or ECCO (European Culture Collections Organisation) that promote collaboration and exchange of ideas and information on all aspects of culture collection. They are sources of information for users of microbiological resources.

Through RARe, CIRM is a member of the GGBN (Global Genome Biodiversity Network) which promotes collaborations between BRCs to ensure quality standards, and harmonise the exchange of microbiological material in accordance with national and international legislation and conventions.