École normale supérieure de Lyon

CIRI PhD student Amandine Chantharath and LIP PhD student Anne Gagneux are winners of the 20th edition of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science France Award, the winners of which were announced on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Thumbnail: From left to right: Anne Gagneux © All rights reserved and Amandine Chantharath © Elisa Llop

In September 2026, RDP researcher Thomas Widiez received the Early Career Research Award in Plant Reproduction. Presented by the International Association of Sexual Plant Reproduction Research (IASPRR), this award recognizes researchers for work carried out during the first ten years of their careers, the originality and impact of which have left a lasting mark on research in plant reproduction. Photo credit: © IASPRR

Since its inception in 2024, the Nanomer project—which brings together European and Latin American institutions focused on nanoscience—has given rise to several initiatives in both education and research. Here’s a look back at the activities in which ENS de Lyon participated in 2025-2026 and at upcoming projects.

According to a CNRS communications dated September 4, 2026. Based on a scientific paper published in Science to which the RDP contributed: “An embryo-derived peptide signal directs endosperm polarity.” Thumbnail credit: © Denis DARZACQ/CNRS Images

According to a CNRS communications dated September 16, 2026. Based on a scientific paper published in Nature to which CIRI contributed: “Insights into longevity and virus-driven adaptation from Myotis bat genomes.” Thumbnail credit: © Elise Lauterbur and Genavieve Gray-Sandoval, University of Arizona, partners of the CNRS’s RAPIDvBAT IRP.

According to a CNRS communication dated September 7, 2026. Based on a scientific paper published in PNAS to which the IGFL contributed: “A Hox-dependent anchoring mechanism mediates transcriptional repression of autophagy-related genes at the nuclear periphery.” Thumbnail: Schematic summary of the mechanism of action of the Hox Ubx protein © Samir Merabet

According to a CNRS communication dated August 12, 2026. Based on a research paper published in PLOS Biology to which François Leulier, a CNRS researcher at the Lyon Institute of Functional Genomics (IGFL) CNRS / ENS de Lyon / University of Lyon, contributed: “A nutrient-sensitive enterokine coordinates developmental plasticity through inter-organ signaling.” Thumbnail: Lst+ cells in Drosophila larvae © Longwei Bai

According to a communications from the CNRS dated July 15, 2026. Based on a scientific paper published in Science Advances to which the IGFL contributed: “Spatiotemporal control of myoblast identity drives muscle diversity in the Drosophila leg.” Thumbnail credit © Jonathan Enriquez

According to a communications from the CNRS dated July 16, 2026. Based on a scientific paper published in Plant Cell to which the RDP laboratory contributed: “Function behind choreography: cytoskeletal, nuclear, and mechanical dynamics drive growth transition in root hair development.” Thumbnail credit © Gaurav Singh / Gilles Dupouy

Yoan Coudert, a biologist and CNRS researcher at the RDP (Plant Reproduction and Development) laboratory, and Louise Joor, a Belgian comic book author, have published Avant les fleurs: Enquête scientifique aux origines des plantes with CNRS Éditions.

Press release – Over the course of five years, researchers sequenced 55,000 genes to produce the first rose pangenome. Coordinated by INRAE together with the ENS de Lyon, Huazhong University (Wuhan) and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Shenzhen), the work provides valuable resources for breeding high-quality roses better suited to global change. The findings were published in Nature Genetics.

According to a communication from the CNRS dated April 3, 2026. Based on a scientific paper published in Current Biology to which the RDP Laboratory (CNRS/ENS de Lyon/INRAE) contributed: “Acute Remodeling of Phosphoinositide Lipids Promotes Endocytosis Downstream of RALF/FERONIA Signaling.” Thumbnail credit: © Vincent ARONDEL/CNRS Images

According to a CNRS communication dated February 19, 2026. Based on a scientific publication in Science Advances, to which the RDP – Plant Reproduction and Development Laboratory contributed: “The actin cytoskeleton is required to maintain plant cell division orientation against cellular geometry.” Thumbnail credit: © Camila Goldy

According to a CNRS communication dated January 26, 2026. Based on a scientific publication in Development to which Longwei Bai, Stéphanie Bellemin, Elodie Guillemot, Maura Strigini, Benjamin Gillet, Cathy Isaura Ramos, and François Leulier, members of the IGFL, contributed: “Ecdysone-mediated intestinal growth contributes to microbiota-driven developmental plasticity under malnutrition.” Thumbnail credit: © François LEULIER/CNRS Images

According to a CNRS communication dated December 23, 2025. Based on a scientific publication in Genome Biology to which Dario D'Asaro, Jean-Michel Arbona, Vinciane Piveteau, Aurèle Piazza, Cédric Vaillant, and Daniel Jost, members of the Laboratory of Biology and Modeling of the Cell (CNRS/ENS Lyon/INSERM/Univ Lyon 1), contributed: “Genome-wide modeling of DNA replication in space and time confirms the emergence of replication-specific patterns in vivo in eukaryotes.” Thumbnail credit © Dario D'Asaro

François Rousset, researcher at the International Research Center in Infectious Diseases (CIRI) and head of the “Molecular Genomics of Microorganisms” team, was awarded the Paoletti Prize on January 7, 2026, a prize that recognizes promising young scientists in all fields of biology. Photo credit © CNRS

Lucie Étienne, Research Director at the International Research Center in Infectious Diseases (CNRS/ENS de Lyon/INSERM/Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1/Hospices Civils de Lyon/Université Jean Monnet – Saint-Étienne) has just been awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant for the FUNEVO project. Photo credit © Sidaction - CNRS

The FluoroBreaker project, developed by students from the iGEM Lyon 2025 team, won a gold medal at the Grand Jamboree, the final event of this prestigious international synthetic biology competition.

According to a communication from the CNRS dated November 12, 2025. Based on a scientific publication in Nature Ecology & Evolution to which Lucie Étienne, CNRS research director at CIRI, and Alexandre Legrand, INSERM researcher and CIRI doctor, contributed: Evolutionary characterization of antiviral SAMD9/9L across kingdoms supports ancient convergence and lineage-specific adaptations. Thumbnail photo credit: © Cédric SUEUR/Marie PELE/IPHC/CNRS Images

According to a CNRS communication dated October 16, 2025. Based on a scientific publication in Current Biology to which the RDP laboratory at ENS de Lyon contributed: “Robust branch patterning in moss shoots via symplasmic auxin diffusion.” Image © Des Callaghan

According to a CNRS announcement dated September 29, 2025, based on a scientific publication in Nucleic Acids Research to which Vincent Mocquet, research fellow at ENS de Lyon within the LBMC, contributed. Thumbnail: The HTLV-1 retrovirus © Vincent Mocquet

According to a CNRS communication dated September 22, 2025, based on a scientific publication in Current Biology co-authored by Yoan Coudert, CNRS researcher at the RDP, ENS de Lyon, together with Saioa Ricou-Dreneuc and Claudine Ah-Peng: “Architectural shift to epiphytism fuels exotic bryophyte invasiveness.”

According to a CNRS communication dated September 22, 2025, following a scientific publication in PLOS Computational Biology co-authored by Lucie Riglet, Christophe Godin, and Isabelle Fobis-Loisy, researchers at the RDP, ENS de Lyon, together with Catherine Quilliet and Karin John from LIPhy, Université Grenoble Alpes.

Focus on the scientific publication “Geochemical chronologies in Paranthropus robustus teeth inform habitat and life histories,” published on July 23, 2025, in Nature Ecology and Evolution, to which Vincent Balter, CNRS research director and member of the LGL-TPE laboratory at ENS de Lyon, contributed alongside Andrew Sillen and Christopher Dean.

CNRS Communication – July 17, 2025. Based on a scientific publication co-authored by Régis Chirat, researcher at the Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon, together with Derek E. Moulton and Alain Goriely, professors at Oxford University: “Hierarchical mechanical patterns in morphogenesis: from mollusc shells to plants, fungi and animals”, published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface on June 25, 2025.

Professor of matrix and disease biology, coordinator of the undergraduate degree in genetics at the University of Glasgow.
Visiting Professor 2024-2025 from June 16 to July 25, 2025
Visiting professor : Florence Ruggiero

Associate Professor and Project Assistant Professor at the Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University
Visiting Professor 2024-2025 from 1^st to 31^st of July, 2025
Inviting Professor: Thomas Widiez

In Situ Lab, a start-up housed in the ENS de Lyon incubator, has won the “Alternatives vertes 2” call for projects for the UP-BiB - Ultra-passive Bioinspired Buildings - project running in collaboration with the RDP laboratory and the Alkante company. The “Alternatives vertes 2” call for projects is designed to support innovation in the ecological transition of cultural players, and is supported by the French government as part of France 2030's “Supporting Green Alternatives 2” program, operated by the Banque des territoires (Caisse des Dépôts).The project is in its start-up phase at the beginning of April, Teva Vernoux, co-founder of In Situ Lab, explains the broad outlines of the winning project.

On Thursday March 27, 2025, the first Biosymposium of the ENS de Lyon's biology laboratories brought together 350 researchers for a day dedicated to science, exchange and encounters.

The European Research Council (ERC) has just announced the list of recipients of its ‘Consolidator’ grants. Among them are two Lyon-based projects led by Marie-Cécile Caillaud and Aurèle Piazza, both members of the ENS de Lyon.

Publication of the Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell in Molecular Cell, August 22, 2024. Communication by CNRS Physics on October 4, 2024.

Congratulations to Amélie Joly (IGFL) and Lise Morlet-Decarnin (LPENSL).

Zayna Chaker, CNRS researcher at the IGFL, and Daniel Stilck França, Inria researcher, LIP member, have been awarded the prestigious "Starting" Grant from the European Research Council (ERC).

Publication of the RDP in PNAS on May 30, 2024. Communication by CNRS Physics on July 8, 2024.

Public health technologist, head of the entomology laboratory and coordinator of the postgraduate program in biodiversity and health at the Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Brazil.
Visiting professor 2023–2024 from August 9 to August 23, 2024.
Inviting professor: Abderrahman Khila.

Publication of the RDP in the journal Development, on June 10, 2024.

ENS de Lyon is honored to have two of its laboratories' researchers elected new EMBO members, namely, Olivier Hamant, INRAE research director, and Teva Vernoux, CNRS research director, both biologists at the RDP.

Publication of the IGFL in the journal PNAS on March 19, 2024. News by CNRS Biology on April 12, 2024.

Publication of the LGL-TPE in the journal PNAS on March 25, 2024. Press release by University of Montpellier on March 26, 2024.

The CNRS awards François Leulier, Director of the IGFL, the silver medal and Lucie Étienne, a researcher at CIRI, and three alumni of our school, the bronze medal.

Publication of the RDP in the journal Phys. Rev. Lett. on October 24, 2023. News by CNRS Physics on January 22, 2024.

Publication of the RDP in the journal PNAS on November 21, 2023. News by CNRS Engineering on December 7, 2023.

Publication of the CIRI in the New England Journal of Medicine on November 30, 2023. Press release of Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University on November 30, 2023.

This autumn, three of ENS de Lyon's biology laboratories organized two international conferences. The RDP hosted the 11th Plant Peptides and Receptors Meeting; the IGFL and LBMC hosted the 27th European Drosophila Research Conference. Two major events at ENS de Lyon.

Publication of the LBMC in the journal Science on November 9, 2023. Communication of CNRS Biology on November 10, 2023.

New premises for CIRI and SFR Biosciences.

Alice Briole, Edwige Cyffers and Aurora Pignata, all graduates of ENS de Lyon, have been awarded grants from the L'Oréal-UNESCO program to support the involvement of young women in scientific research.