Bordeaux Neurocampus

Updated on: 19/03/2026

Bordeaux Neurocampus is at the forefront of research on the brain and the pathologies that affect it, and is one of the leading European centres for research in neuroscience, from the molecular level to patient care.

In the 1990s, the University of Bordeaux’s neuroscience community was the first federation in France in the field of brain research. Over the last 15 years, it has become one of the most productive and attractive in France and Europe. All the neuroscience laboratories are now grouped under a common entity: Bordeaux Neurocampus.

Research conducted by some 50 teams comprising a total of around 750 scientists is advancing our knowledge of how the brain works, whether healthy or sick, and developing new approaches that are both therapeutic and preventive for the diseases that affect it.

The Bordeaux Neurocampus laboratories are experts in a wide range of skills and technologies ranging from molecular and cellular biology to biomedical imaging in humans. Their fields of expertise are: cellular biology of nervous system cells, synapses and circuits, neurodevelopment in various physiological processes such as cognition, memory, nutrition, motor and sensorial systems as well as in a range of pathologies such as neurodegenerative diseases, psychiatric pathologies, nutrition, motor and sleep disorders. For these purposes, many different technologies are used and being developed such as neuroimaging and neurophotonics.

Access to sophisticated facilities and equipment - some twenty platforms - coupled with the multidisciplinary nature of the research work are factors of excellence that encourage cross-disciplinary approaches.

Scientists in the community also benefit from continuing education and a hundred or so seminars, lectures and symposiums throughout the year.

The technology transfer cell, NutriBrain, two labcoms (labs shared between an SME and an institute) and approximately 10 start-ups originating in the units round out the research environment. Their diversity reflects the community's dynamism and heterogeneity.

Finally, Bordeaux Neurocampus is anchored in the international community through collaborative research projects with countries around the world, as well as through the symposiums organised or training courses offered. That international influence is also based on the recruitment of international team leaders, particularly with support from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Council. A high proportion of doctoral students and research staff, representing nearly 40 different nationalities, are also present in the labs.

Management

Jérôme Baufreton

Director
Aude Panatier

Assistant director
Mathieu Wolff

Assistant director

Visit the website

Find the Department's themes and teams on The hub, the collaborative platform supported by the University of Bordeaux

Contact

Valérie Derouiche

Administrative & Finance Manager

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Marine Boussicault

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Arnaud Rodriguez

Editorial Webmaster / Communication Manager

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Julia Goncalves

GPR Brain_2030 project manager / Scientific Outreach Coordinator

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The department's 9 strategic research fields

Cellular biology and development of nervous system cells and synapses
Dynamics of neuronal circuits
Motor and sensorial systems
Addiction and vulnerability, drug addiction
Brain, cognition and behaviour

Psychiatric pathologies
Neurological diseases
Nutrition and health
Neurotechnologies (development of new technologies for neuroscience)

Activities

The Bordeaux Neurocampus department coordinates joint activities (internal communications, seminars, doctoral training, international meetings and outreach activities) and acts as a privileged intermediary between the units and the University of Bordeaux.

Scientific outreach is at the heart of the Bordeaux Neurocampus department. On one hand, by funding and organising scientific events (weekly seminars, symposiums, doctoral research day, yearly international conference, etc.). On the other, by funding projects, to develop or strengthen collaborations in view of obtaining national and international funding.

One University of Bordeaux Major Research Programme (GPR), accredited in spring 2021, is coordinated by Bordeaux Neurocampus:

BRAIN_2030 - Bordeaux Région Aquitaine Initiative for the future of Neuroscience coordinated by Daniel Choquet, CNRS researcher at IINS (Institut interdisciplinaire de neurosciences - CNRS & University of Bordeaux)
Other research departments are involved: Health sciences and technologies, Biological and medical sciences, Material and light sciences and Engineering and digital sciences

The department is also involved in 2 GPRs:

Human Past coordinated by the Archeological sciences department
LIGHT - Light sciences and its applications coordinated by the Material and light sciences department

and 3 Impulsion Research Networks (RRI):

Frontiers of Life coordinated by the Material and light sciences department
IMPACT - Imaging for Precision medicine within A Collaborative Translational program coordinated by the Health sciences and technologies department
NEWMOON - NEW Models in Oncology coordinated by the Biological and medical sciences department

Lastly, the training-research theme is based on the Bordeaux Neurocampus Graduate Programme, including a Master in neuroscience with 5 different courses of study and a doctoral programme. The Bordeaux School of Neuroscience, a training platform focusing on "research through research" and open to the entire international community, rounds out the activities. These two components are headed by Christophe Mulle.

Key figures

6

laboratories
54

research teams
750

researchers

(incl. 140 doctoral students)
20

technological platforms

(incl. 3 IBISA-certified & 6 University of Bordeaux-certified

Organisation and partners

Departmental units

Ce département est composé de 9 unités.

Unités de recherche :

IINS - Institut interdisciplinaire de neurosciences (UMR 5297 - UBx, CNRS)
IMN - Institut des maladies neurodégénératives (UMR 5293 - UBx, CNRS ; partenaire : CEA)
INCIA - Institut de neurosciences cognitives et intégratives d’Aquitaine (UMR 5287 - UBx, CNRS ; partenaire : EPHE)
MAGENDIE - Neurocentre Magendie (U1215 - UBx, Inserm)
NutriNeuro - Nutrition et neurobiologie intégrée (UMR 1286 - UBx, INRAE, Bordeaux INP)
SANPSY - Sommeil, addiction et neuropsychiatrie (UMR 3413, UBx, CNRS)

Unité d'appui à la recherche :

BIC - Bordeaux Imaging Center (UAR 3420 – UBx, CNRS & US 004 - Ubx, Inserm)

Unité de service :

ENB - École des neurosciences (US UBx004 - UBx)

Governance

Le comité des directeurs

Jérôme Baufreton, directeur du département Bordeaux Neurocampus
Marc Auriacombe, directeur de Sanpsy
Sandrine Bertrand, directrice de l’Incia
Thomas Boraud, directeur de l’IMN
Lucile Capuron, directrice de NutriNeuro
Daniel Choquet, directeur de l’IINS
Christophe Mulle, directeur de l’EUR Neuro
Stéphane Oliet, directeur du Neurocentre Magendie
Invités : Aude Panatier et Matthieu Wolff, directeurs adjoints

Conseil de département

Il est composé de 28 membres, dont 14 enseignants-chercheurs et chercheurs, 7 personnels BIATSS/ITA, 4 doctorants et post-doctorants et 3 personnalités extérieures.

Jérôme Baufreton, directeur du département (DR2 CNRS, IMN)
Unai Alduntzin (doctorant, Magendie)
Clémentine Bosch-Bouju (MCU, NutriNeuro)
Anna Brachet (CR CNRS, IINS)
Franck Burglen (IR CNRS, Magendie)
Martine Cador (DR CNRS, INCIA)
Ingrid Chamma (CR CNRS, IINS)
Benjamin Dehay (CR INSERM, IMN)
Aline Desmedt (MCU UB, Magendie)
Nadège Dubourdieu (TS UB, Magendie)
Xavier Fioramonti (CR INRAE, NutriNeuro)
François Georges (DR CNRS, IMN)
Laurent Groc (DR CNRS, IINS)
Jean-Louis Guillou (PR UB, INCIA)
Zoé Jamet (PHD, IINS)
Cédric Lopez (IR UB, IINS)
Giovanni Marsicano (DR INSERM, Magendie)
Frédérique Masmejean (IE CNRS, INCIA)
Jean-Arthur Micoulaud (PUPH, Sanpsy)
Romuald Nargeot (MCU UB, INCIA)
Frédéric Naudet (IE CNRS, IMN)
Victor Nozais (doctorant, IMN)
Aude Panatier (CR, Magendie)
Christel Poujol (IR CNRS, BIC)
Alexandra Sere (ADT UB, NutriNeuro)
Yacine Tensaouti (doctorant, INCIA)

3 personnalités extérieures complètent ce conseil.

Platforms

Plateformes labellisées "université de Bordeaux"

Biologie cellulaire – IINS
Bordeaux Imaging Center (BIC)
Plateforme de Biochimie et Biophysique des protéines (BioProt)
Plateforme d’analyse du mouvement (PAM) – Incia
Plateforme de Recherche Neuro-Psychopharmacologique (PRNPP) – Sanpsy
PUMA (Plateformes Unifiées de Magendie) : bioinformatique, chimie analytique, génotypage, microdissection laser, transcriptome – Neurocentre Magendie

Autres plateformes :

Animaleries
Plateforme aquatique – IMN
PEPNH – IMN
Exploration anatomique et histologique – Neurocentre Magendie
Electrophysiologie cellulaire (Phycell) – Incia
PIV – IINS / IMN
TEP – Incia
Vectorologie – IMN
ZEMA - Neurocentre Magendie

Graduate Research School

Bordeaux Neurocampus a été lauréat avec son projet EUR Neuro, qui a pour objectif d’installer durablement le site bordelais sur la carte mondiale de la formation en neurosciences via le développement de l’innovation pédagogique et l’ancrage des programmes de formation master/doctorat à l’international. Les 6 laboratoires de recherche sont impliqués. Les principales actions de l’EUR sont :

la promotion d’un programme intégré de master/doctorat en neurosciences;
l’organisation de formations pratiques à l’École des neurosciences de Bordeaux ;
la promotion des partenariats avec le secteur privé et les partenaires académiques ;
le développement de l’interdisciplinarité ;
le soutien de double-cours médecine/sciences.

Des équipes de Bordeaux Neurocampus sont également associées à l’EUR Light.

Doctoral schools

Plus de 250 doctorants sont inscrits à l'École doctorale des sciences de la vie et de la santé. Parmi eux, environ 120 effectuent leurs travaux de recherche dans les laboratoires de Bordeaux Neurocampus. Bordeaux Neurocampus accueille également des étudiants provenant d'autres écoles doctorales (santé publique, physique...).

Partnerships and supervision

Tutelles principales des unités du département :

Bordeaux INP
CNRS
EPHE
INRAE
Inserm

Les équipes accueillent également du personnel des établissements suivants :

CEA
Centre Hospitalier Charles Perrens
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux
Inria

Partenaires

Conseil régional Nouvelle Aquitaine
Société des Neurosciences
Maison du Cerveau
Neuroscience Bordeaux Association (NBA - association d’étudiants)
FRM Aquitaine
FRC Neurodon
BIND (Bordeaux Initiative for Neurodegenerative disorders)
FHU Talisment
Casden Banque Populaire

Bordeaux Neurocampus - Centre Broca Nouvelle-Aquitaine
146 rue Léo Saignat
33076 Bordeaux CEDEX

Keywords

Neuroscience, synapse, cellular imaging, electrophysiology, optogenetics, neurotechnologies, behaviour, addiction, neural networks, neurological diseases, sleep, motor systems, memory, stress, pain, hearing system, balance, psychiatric diseases, nutrition, Parkinson's, dementia, Alzheimer's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, sleep.