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 60 Resarch teams, 5 départments and 14 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

LLANSOLA B3S

June 12th, 2026 by B3S Dept

Reassessing Carotenoid Photophysics: Shedding Light on Dark States

The dark excited states of carotenoids have been debated for decades. Researchers at I2BC now use femtosecond stimulated resonance Raman spectroscopy to determine the nature and symmetry of three of them, resolving controversies that have long obscured our understanding of photosynthetic light harvesting.

Journal of the American Chemical Society

Quemin Tavares VIRO

June 12th, 2026 by Virology Dept

Assembly of viral particles in situwithin the compartmentalized bacterial host cell

Integrative structural analysis by cryoFIB-milling and cryoET shows how siphovirus SPP1 reoganized the bacterial cytoplasmic space during infection to confine stepwise assembly of viral particles starting from procapsid formation at the plasma membrane.

Nature Communication