Launch of the I-REIVAC-Emergence platform: a decisive step forward for French clinical research in vaccinology against emerging infectious diseases

The I-REIVAC-Emergence platform supported by ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases (ANRS MIE) and AP-HP draws on the expertise of the F-CRIN I-REIVAC network. This structure of excellence in vaccine clinical research, whose coordinating team is based at Hôtel-Dieu Hospital (AP-HP) in Paris, demonstrated its effectiveness during the Covid-19 pandemic through the Covireivac program. Thanks to this new initiative, France will strengthen the structuring of the national I-REIVAC network to be able to rapidly evaluate vaccines, developed by academic and industrial partners, to face future emergencies.

To prepare for future health crises, the strategic objectives of this platform are based on:

• Strengthening clinical research infrastructures by supporting ten clinical investigation centers, in nine university hospitals: AP-HP (Cochin and Saint-Antoine hospitals), Dijon, Lyon, Lille, Montpellier, Nantes, Rennes, Saint-Étienne and Tours;
• research support from methodology and management centers (CMG) with expertise in vaccinology;
• preparation and coordination of biological sample management via eight biological resource centers (BRCs), including three coordinating BRCs in conjunction with the ANRS MIE and Bordeaux University Hospital biobank;
• development of trial methodology interoperability via standard protocols and data sharing in conjunction with the CMGs ;
• the standardization and automation of immunomonitoring tests for rapid and reliable evaluation of immune responses in six partner laboratories;
• the development and animation of the national volunteer registry already including over 55,000 participants;
• accelerating the implementation of clinical trials thanks to optimized organization and simplified regulatory processes in conjunction with the CMGs;
• adapting crisis management plans to guarantee rapid mobilization of the resources and expertise of the I-REIVAC-Emergence platform in the event of an epidemic in conjunction with the ANRS MIE crisis unit.

I-REIVAC-Émergence is a project to structure French clinical vaccine research. It is part of a national dynamic around vaccine research led by Inserm and the French BioCluster for Innovation in Infectious Diseases (BCF2I) (coordinated by Lyonbiopôle), of which Inserm/ANRS MIE and AP-HP are partners. It is also in line with European initiatives such as the European Vaccin Hub (EVH) of the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) coordinated for France by the Institut Pasteur.

The I-REIVAC-Emergence platform links up with other national platforms funded as part of the France 2030 acceleration strategy for emerging infectious diseases and also supported by ANRS MIE/Inserm, such as EMERGEN 2.0 launched on March 19, 2025, and OPEN-ReMIE launched on March 21, 2025. An inter-platform committee will be set up to coordinate these various national initiatives, particularly in the event of a health crisis.

Thanks to I-REIVAC-Émergence, France is acquiring an essential platform for meeting future public health challenges. By strengthening existing infrastructures and facilitating collaboration between academic and industrial players, this project aims to make France a European leader in vaccine prevention for emerging infectious diseases.