The UMR203 BF2I (Biologie Fonctionnelle Insectes et Interactions) Laboratory is a joined research unit between the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon (INSA Lyon) and Plant Health and the Environment (SPE) Division of the Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (INRAE), The laboratory is located on the LyonTech - La Doua Campus of the University of Lyon (Lyon/Villeurbanne, France) and it is hosted within the Department of BioSciences at INSA de Lyon.

The scientific project of the unit is based on the understanding of the functions managing the interaction of some groups of insects, of agronomic importance, with their direct biological partners (plant-host, symbiotic micro-organisms). This research mobilizes various disciplinary fields ranging from physiology to functional genomics of the insect. The challenge is to analyze and understand the functioning of insects in sustainable interaction with their biotic partners. The objective is to develop knowledge and methods to identify new effectors and targets for the control of insect pests with methods that are part of a sustainable development approach. The unit's programs are developed by three thematic groups: the two historical groups working on symbiosis, «Symbiosis and Immune Signaling» (SymSIm), «Trophic Interactions in Symbiosis» (SymT) and the new group «Insect Engineering» (InEn). InEn has recently started its activities and is based on a strong collaboration with startups and the local INSA Lyon network (notably the Ampère and INL laboratories). The laboratory staff is actively involved in research training of Master and PhD students, as well as, in course teaching at the INSA de Lyon. [see: laboratory organizational chart].

* Note: UMR is acronym for Unité Mixte de Recherche. This is the French terminology for a joint research laboratory between two or more research institutes.

To read more about the laboratory research focus click here.