Nîmes University Hospital

DFoRM: tailor-made medicines and medical devices

Enabling clinicians to have small quantities of placebos available for trials on the repositioning of molecules for other indications: this is the initial objective of the DFoRM platform, launched in 2020 by Dr Ian Soulairol, head of the Preparation, Control, Clinical Trials unit of the Nîmes University Hospital pharmacy and a researcher at the Charles Gerhardt Institute in Montpellier, which specialises in the 3D printing of drugs. In 2022 he is joined by Prof. Xavier Garric of the Max Mousseron Institute of Biomolecules (IBMM) at the University of Montpellier, which relies on 3D printing to meet the needs of medical device prototyping. “This platform aims to minimise the problems of supplying medical devices, to develop tailor-made devices and to position the Nîmes University Hospital as a place of innovation,” explains Prof. Garric.

Five applications have already been submitted for experimental drugs. “We are currently working on six other projects, four of which concern the manufacture of placebo and verum,” adds Dr Soulairol. A first medical device for the treatment of intra-uterine adhesions was developed in collaboration with the Gynaecology Department and gave rise to the company Womed on the basis of a patent co-owned by the Nîmes University Hospital and the University of Montpellier. “We are currently drawing up an inventory of the needs of the various hospital departments in order to set up R&D programmes for the development of prototypes within the next 5 to 10 years,” stresses Prof. Garric. The DFoRM Platform doubled its production area in 2022 and will move into a brand new building in 2025. “This will enable us to maintain our know-how and equipment to be more resilient in the face of future health crises,” concludes Dr Soulairol.

Imaging Platform for Innovation

Offering research services in radiology and medical imaging: this is the objective of the Imaging Platform for Innovation (IPI), which is based on two complementary foundations: a multidisciplinary research team, the “Medical Imaging Group (MIG) Nîmes”, and an imaging platform equipped with the latest generation of multi-machine equipment (scanners, MRI, interventional radiology rooms, including a 4DCT, digital equipment, anthropomorphic phantoms) with dedicated time slots. “IPI is aimed at drug and medical device manufacturers, radiology manufacturers and clinicians with therapeutic projects,” explains Prof. Julien Frandon, head of the Interventional Radiology unit within the Radiology – Medical Imaging division and IPI’s medical manager.

IPI puts its know-how “from code to bedside” at the service of 140 studies structured in 3 areas: digital and AI, biomarkers in imaging and image-guided therapies. IPI has also developed two research areas of its own: ultra-low dose (ULD) imaging, which offers a new 3D radiology with very low exposure to X-rays and controlled ischemia therapy, which studies embolization to stimulate neoangiogenesis. “We plan to move on to photonic scanning to further develop these emerging themes,” says Prof. Frandon. A revolution that would make it possible to develop new biomarkers and reduce radiation doses even further.

Micro&Bio: towards new therapeutic solutions

Hosted by the Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene Department of the Carémeau University Hospital, the platform Micro&Bio is composed of two platforms. The GéMIC platform evaluates the organisation of human microbiota and the genetic and epidemiological evolution of microbial genomes. It recently made it possible to analyse the genome of a new bacterium (Brucella amazonia sp. nov.) and set up a new-generation sequencer, the size of a smartphone, to identify the pathogens that cause meningitis, determining their genome (DNA or RNA) in order to highlight a particular virulence or resistance gene. For Prof. Jean-Philippe Lavigne, head of the Microbiology Department at the Nîmes University Hospital, genomic tools are a solution for the future to facilitate and accelerate diagnosis, better orient treatment and avoid the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. “Sequenced genome analysis kits are currently being developed in collaboration with bioMérieux, based on rapid bioinformatics interpretation software that allows results to be delivered within a day.”

For its part, the bioMONOPOLY platform studies the various stages of formation and regulation of bacteria organised in biofilms that become de facto resistant to all antibiotics. “We use microfluidic technology to mimic the implantation of one or more bacteria on a wound and to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of new molecules with antibiotic or antibiofilm potential,” explains Prof. Lavigne. Micro&Bio has joined forces with the company BioFilm Control to also develop the antibiofilmogram, which brings together a bacterium and an antibiotic and observes whether the latter induces the formation of a biofilm, making the antibiotic ineffective. Initial clinical trials have used this tool to explain therapeutic failures during antibiotic treatment, despite the fact that the antibiogram is effective, to make better use of antibiotics and to develop alternatives. An association with the Menarini company has also made it possible to evaluate the activity of new antibiotic treatments on mono and polymicrobial biofilms. These are all advances in the service of precision medicine.