Generalities
The research program “SIGNALIFE” has been selected by the French Ministry of Research and Education during the highly competitive Labex “Laboratoire d’Excellence” call, within the framework of the governmental initiative “Investments for the Future” in 2011. Since 2016, it is part of the Idex (Initiative of Excellence) UCA Jedi program awarded to the Université Côte d’Azur (UCA) (Labex in Idex).
The Labex SIGNALIFE aims at developing a research network between six leading academic research institutes in Nice. This project thus contributes to establishing an interactive network of regional institutes in the life sciences, focused on the study of signaling pathways in animal and plants, essential to our understanding of human health and fundamental biological processes. The research program is organized into 5 main scientific axes around signalling: 1. Cellular Architecture; 2. Cell Plasticity; 3. Stress Signaling; 4. Aging and Disease Progression; 5. New Principles
Labex SIGNALIFE, 1st period (2012-2019). The program, under Stéphane Noselli’s direction, has been awarded 11 million euros. The aim here was to build up a strong and competitive educational program. We established a successful and highly selective international PhD program (see the website page PhD/Post-docs) leading to the recruitment of 73 PhD students (36 nationalities, 84% from abroad) .
Labex SIGNALIFE, extension project (2020-2024). This 2nd period, under Pierre Abad’s direction, has been awarded 4.3 million euros. This program aims to develop 2 specific actions: 1) basic science: we plan to recruit new high-profile group leaders in emerging topics related to all SIGNALIFE axes through competitive calls for 5 Chairs of Excellence; 2) innovation: we plan to develop Startup creation with a Young Entrepreneur Program.
The Labex SIGNALIFE is hosted by the UCA and unites 56 leading teams, 500 scientists including approximately 250 research permanent positions. It is supported by all major research organisms in the life and medical sciences (UCA, CNRS, Inserm, INRAE, Inria, Nice University Hospital, Antoine Lacassagne Cancer Center). Private companies as well as local authorities further support the initiative of the Labex SIGNALIFE to build a novel interdisciplinary research network of excellence for life sciences and human health.
6 Partners
Institutions
