INSERM

The Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (Inserm, French pronunciation: ​[insɛʁm]) is the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research. It is the only public research institution solely focused on human health and medical research in France.

Created in 1964, the Inserm is a public institution with a scientific and technical vocation under the dual auspices of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Research. It was created as a successor to the French National Institute of Health.

Inserm consists of 339 research units, run by 6,500 permanent staff members. Eighty percent of Inserm research units are embedded in research hospitals of French universities.

Each year, Inserm awards three researchers in three major distinct categories. The Grand prix de l'Inserm recognizes major advancements in biology for an active researcher of the institution, the Grand prix d'honneur recognizes a French public institution's researcher whose contributions have had a major impact in science, and the Prix étranger (Foreign Prize) awards a foreign researcher for their particular contributions to biomedical research. In addition the Inserm has internal awards for engineers and young researchers.