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Missions


The aim of CEA’s Life Sciences Division is to use spin-offs from nuclear science to advance technology for healthcare, and in particular to study the effects on living systems of radiation and toxins derived from nuclear energy use.

The first of these objectives concerns applying technology generated by nuclear science to healthcare and biotechnology. The research being conducted aims to develop the new tools that will be vital for understanding the structure and operation of complex living systems. The expertise acquired in molecular labelling and detection now make it possible to study the structure and function of living systems in vitro and to conduct in vivo research on the physiology of living organisms without displacing their principal equilibria. The integration of knowledge and techniques developed at the CEA favours powerful advances in areas where the technological component is essential (image acquisition and processing, detection and transmission of information, micro- and nano-technology in detectors, sensors, biochips, manipulation of molecules, etc., diagnostic tests, analysis of complex systems, models for genetic data storage, protection from bioterrorism, etc.). The tools and knowledge thereby developed are used in particular for research in radiobiology and nuclear toxicology, our second research area.

The second major research effort is devoted to biological and medical research linked to nuclear energy production. The aim is to understand and assess the effects of nuclear energy use on health and the environment, especially at low exposure levels. The ultimate aim is to be able to make a scientifically sound assessment of the radiological and chemical risks arising from nuclear energy use in both the short and long terms, in order to improve protection methods and draw up safer standards, i.e. neither too tolerant nor unnecessarily stringent and therefore costly. The results of this research will be most important for the future of national and international nuclear plant operation because they will serve as benchmarks for subsequent nuclear regulation.

This high level research conducted in an international setting is reviewed every four years to evaluate relevance of objectives and quality of results. Each research department is assigned a Scientific Council entrusted with its evaluation and made up of experts from outside the CEA, one third of whom are from countries other than France.

The Life Sciences Division (DSV) currently hosts 1900 persons, including 1050 CEA staff and 390 researchers and technicians from universities and other research bodies, and some 450 temporary postgraduate and postdoctoral research workers. The research laboratories of the DSV are housed mainly at six CEA centres; Saclay, Fontenay-aux-Roses, Bruyères-le-Châtel, Grenoble, Cadarache and Marcoule. They are organised in six departments and a joint CEA – CNRS – Joseph Fourier University structure at Grenoble. Every unit is associated with a university through a specific contractual agreement.

The Division also implements a policy of research application in partnership with industry. It is thus directly involved in three competitivity centres, two of which are certified world competitivity centres (MédiTech Santé and LyonBiopole).
At the European level the DSV is strongly involved in the Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP6). It coordinates several networks of excellence and integrated projects and is a partner in many other projects.