Institut des maladies inflammatoires chroniques intestinales de Nancy

The INFINY Institute is dedicated to inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). It delivers an integrated program combining fundamental and clinical research, innovation, care, and training, with the aim of improving understanding of these complex conditions, advancing personalized approaches, and ultimately enhancing patient care and quality of life.

The institute’s research has led to several significant advances. In particular, teams have identified key interactions between certain food additives and the gut microbiota (with a publication in Gut recognized as Gut Top paper 2025). Additional findings highlight the role of microRNAs in host–microbiota interactions, as well as the impact of environmental factors such as microplastics. Progress has also been made in understanding systemic inflammation (including vascular mechanisms associated) with IBD.

In parallel, innovative approaches are being developed to improve diagnosis and patient monitoring. Precision imaging strategies are under evaluation, including advanced MRI sequences and AI-based image analysis tools. Non-invasive methods to assess intestinal activity are also being tested. These developments are part of the RHU i-DEAL program, which aims to enable earlier detection of CD flares and support more responsive and personalized care.

From a clinical perspective, a care pathway combining hospital-based and remote follow-up is currently being structured. A cohort of patients and healthy volunteers will be deployed to better characterize disease heterogeneity and inform therapeutic strategies. The CALPRO-MG program, focused on secondary prevention and early detection in primary care through fecal calprotectin testing, is also being implemented.

The program also includes a strong training and dissemination component, with the organization of conferences, an annual scientific symposium, and a summer school, contributing to knowledge transfer and international visibility.

Overall, these activities have generated robust scientific results and supported the emergence of several innovation pathways, some of which are already being developed in collaboration with industrial partners.