EquipEx France-Cryo-EM

EquipEx+ France Cryo-EM is a national initiative designed to strengthen cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) capabilities in France. This project aims to structure and enhance the national scientific community by acquiring and operating three state-of-the-art cryo-electron microscopes. These instruments are distributed across key research hubs: the National Centre for Biomedical Cryo-EM (CN-cryo, Strasbourg) and two major synchrotron sites, the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in collaboration with the Institute of Structural Biology (IBS, Grenoble) and the SOLEIL synchrotron (Saint-Aubin).

The recent “resolution revolution” in cryo-EM, which was recognized with the 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, has established cryo-EM as the premier method for exploring the architecture of complex biological systems. This approach has significant applications in biomedical and biotechnological research, particularly in drug discovery and disease mechanism studies.

France-Cryo-EM aims to:

• Structure access to cryo-EM at the national level, ensuring improved availability for the French scientific community.

• Position the national research community at the forefront of cryo-EM and integrative structural biology technologies, enhancing international visibility.

• Provide new insights into the structure-function relationships of macromolecular complexes and molecular machinery, crucial for understanding physiological and pathological mechanisms.

• Establish a foundation for innovative approaches to drug design, with broad applications in biomedical research and human health.

• Promote long-term academic employment in the field, particularly within universities and industry.

Project Timeline and Milestones

The official launch of France-Cryo-EM EquipEx+ took place on February 22, 2022. The project, initiated in 2021, successfully completed the procurement process for the three cryo-electron microscopes with the CNRS DR10 purchasing department.

• Strasbourg (CN-cryo): The first cryo-electron microscope was delivered on September 26, 2022, and has been operational for the scientific community since April 2023.

• Grenoble (IBS/ISBG/ESRF): The second microscope was delivered at the end of June 2023. Installation commenced in September 2023 and was completed in January 2024, with final validation in October 2024.

• SOLEIL Synchrotron: The third microscope was delivered 18 March 2024, installed  13 September 2024 and opened to users 1 January 2025 enhancing the national cryo-EM infrastructure.

These advanced cryo-electron microscopes provide cutting-edge tools for the French scientific community, fostering high-impact research in structural biology and expanding opportunities for collaboration at both national and international levels.