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Institutes/ Institute of biomedical imaging (I²BM)/ Departments/ Frédéric Joliot Hospital Service (SHFJ)/ General Introduction/ The Service Hospitalier

The Service Hospitalier


The SHFJ is a center for molecular and functional non-invasive imaging, dedicated to clinical and preclinical research. It also includes a nuclear medecine unit.

Biograph imager (PET-CT) of the SHFJ

Biograph imager (PET-CT) of the SHFJ

EARL_FDG_PET_CT_Accreditation_signet

EARL FDG PET/CT Accreditation signet

The SHFJ is one of the pioneering centres in Europe in the field of molecular imaging using the PET (positron emission tomography) technique and one of few French centres disposing of an academic cyclotron and a radiochemistry unit. It is also equipped with an MRI 1.5 T. With its teams of specialists in methodology and the treatment of PET and MRI images it proposes a multimodal approach of biomedical imaging in the fields of neurology, psychiatry, oncology and cardiovascular and metabolic disease. In its role of nuclear medicine department of the hospital group Orsay-Longjumeau the SHFJ fulfils a public service mission depending of the DRASS and the ARS. The SHFJ is amongst others a partner of the Centre of Clinical Investigation (CIC) of the Saint Louis hospital, which recently obtained from the INCA an official seal of approval for therapeutic trials in early disease stages in the field of oncology. As a research unit the SHFJ is closely associated with the national medical research organisation INSERM in so called mixed research units, which are entirely or partially based at the SHFJ: U663 (epilepsy and brain plasticity), URA 2210 (team 4), U1000 (psychiatry), U1023 (molecular imaging) and with the CIERM , the clinical imaging platform IR4M of Paris-11 University (magnetic resonance imaging). The SHFJ occupies a total surface of 6200 m2, which houses a day-hospital ward dedicated to clinical research (thirteen beds of which one paediatric and one neonatal).

The SHFJ, located in Orsay, is part of the Institute of Biomedical Imaging, one of the eight institutes of the Life Science Division of the CEA.

Cradle of medical imaging, the SHFJ celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2008. Moreover, it has disseminated two other research centres: NeuroSpin, a centre for very-high-field nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, and MIRCen, a multimodal preclinical imaging platform for gene- and cellular therapy. These actual installations, all situated in the Parisian region, are likely to federate the human and material resources envisaged for an intended European centre of excellence.

The department has obtained the accreditation EARL FDG PET/CT of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM).

Specific characteristics of the SHFJ :

  • Imaging equipment :
    • Cameras dedicated to nuclear medicine: DST-XL, Ecam, Biograph 6 (PET-CT)
    • Pulmonary scintigraphy station (emergency)
    • PET cameras dedicated to biomedical research: HR+2 and HRRT
    • Cameras dedicated to preclinical research: HR+1, μPET Focus, μPET-CT Invéon, μSPECT-CT Biospace
    • MRI 1.5T Philips
  • Hospital setting : favours and facilitates the reception of patients and volunteers within the framework of clinical research projects.
  • Interplay with two other imaging settings of the CEA, NeuroSpin and MIRCen in the fields of methodology and technological innovation in the neurosciences.
  • Close collaborations with major players in research from universities (Paris XI, Paris VI, Paris XII, Paris VII, Paris V), INSERM, CNRS,