Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell – I2BC, Institute of Integrative Biology of the Cell, is a Joint Research Unit (UMR9198) supervised by CEA, CNRS and Paris-Saclay University. I2BC is 50 Research teams, 5 departments and 15 core facilities teams.

At the Heart of the Cell:
Explore, Understand, Innovate

Biochemistry, Biophysics & Structural Biology (B3S)

Cell Biology

Genome Biology

Microbiology

Virology

Core Facilities

Welcome to the Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell

The Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC) is the leading Paris-Saclay institute for molecular and cellular biology. I2BC explores how cells function as integrated systems across multiple scales, leveraging a broad spectrum of organisms and model systems.

Organized into five scientific departments, the research teams benefit from cutting-edge core facilities and a collaborative environment. Together, they drive innovative research structured around four transverse axes:

Architecture and dynamics of cellular structures and associated pathologies

Processing of genetic information and its dysfunctions

Host-microbe interactions: infectious diseases and symbiosis

Bio-inspired engineering for energy, health and the environment

Highlights

GIRARD GENOMES

October 19th, 2026 by DeCODE team from Genome Biology Dept

Presence of polymorphism reshapes the crossover distribution in Arabidopsis thaliana

Meiotic crossovers are relocated to polymorphic regions across the Arabidopsis genome through an MSH2-dependent mismatch-repair pathway

Nature Communications

PELTIER MICROBIO

October 19th, 2026 by ARNCLO team from Microbiology Dept

Tiny proteins, major impact: a new link between bacterial signaling and sporulation

Researchers at I2BC have uncovered a family of small proteins that promotes spore formation in Clostridioides difficile, revealing how the bacterial messenger c-di-GMP controls this key process for the pathogen’s persistence and transmission

Nature Communications

LLANSOLA B3S

Oct 5th, 2026 by LEC team from B3S Dept

How the polarisability of its environment shapes the electronic excited states of lutein, a key pigment of photosynthesis

Lutein helps plants harvest sunlight and protect themselves from excess light. Ultrafast laser spectroscopy at I2BC shows that the polarisability of its environment reshapes its electronic excited states and their lifetimes.

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

It’s happening at I2BC

Journée Thématique ЯÉCIPROCS et IA "De la réflexion à l’IA : innover, analyser, découvrir "

2026-11-03-2026-11-04

09:00-18:00

B21-N0-00

Symposium

Xavier Lahaye "Nuclear Antiviral Surveillance: From Centromeres to NONO-cGAS complex”

Mon 9th of November

11:00-13:00

B21-N0-00

External Seminar

Paris-Saclay Junior Conference on Computational Biology (J2CB) : Édition 2026

Thu 12th of November

08:00-18:00

B21-N0-00

Symposium

Ambre Baumann "Diversité et évolution des repliements protéiques chez les archées : De l’adaptation aux environnements extrêmes à l’origine de la biodiversité" (eq. Lopes - Genome Biology dpt)

Fri 13th of November

14:00-18:00

B26-N2-000

PhD Defense

Eve Mercier "Décryptage du mécanisme RIP" (eq. Malagnac - Genome Biology dpt)

Fri 13th of November

14:00-18:00

B21-N0-00

PhD Defense

Cytoskeleton club Maya Guerri (eq. Le Clainche, BioCell dpt) and Thennavan Ulaganathan (eq. Charbonnier/Zinn-Justin, B3S dpt)

Fri 13th of November

11:00-13:00