The Institut Pasteur and UCSF-QBI celebrated an ongoing successful scientific collaboration today, which was initiated in March 2019, and expanded significantly during the pandemic. This alliance, formalized in October 2022, aimed at bolstering the fight against infectious diseases, has already spawned more than 20 research projects, a dozen publications in high-level journals, and numerous scientific exchanges. This initiative now includes the Gladstone Institute of Virology and is preparing to expand its impact globally through the Pasteur-UCSF-Gladstone Center.
Here is the story of a successful international collaboration. The Institut Pasteur and the Quantitative Biosciences Institute at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) celebrated their scientific collaboration on March 18, 2025, in Paris, which was initiated in San Francisco in March 2019. The initiative, now renamed the "Pasteur-UCSF-Gladstone Institutes Center," includes the Gladstone Institute of Virology (San Francisco, USA) to enhance its international impact. This alliance aims to strengthen the fight against infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases worldwide and has already resulted in more than 20 research projects, a dozen high-level journal publications, and numerous scientific exchanges.
Impactful goals for infectious disease research
The primary objective of this ‘Pasteur-UCSF-Gladstone’ collaboration is to develop innovative strategies for early detection, therapeutic interventions, and the prevention of future pandemics. By combining the complementary expertise of the three institutions, this partnership offers a unique approach to tackling the challenges of pandemics, from research to global implementation. "The relationship between the Institut Pasteur and QBI at UCSF and the Gladstone Institutes has been a great success. We work together on a variety of different infectious agents including HIV, SARS-CoV-2, and Influenza. We’re starting to find commonalities across these different viruses that we can ultimately exploit. We are well positioned to take this collaboration to the next level, and have a big impact not just on infectious diseases but non communical diseases as well", says Nevan Krogan, Director of UCSF-Quantitative Biosciences Institute, one of the PI leader of the program. On the French side, Melanie Hamon, also PI leader of the program and Head of Chromatin & Infection Unit at the Institut Pasteur, adds: "The exchanges between Pasteur and UCSF and Gladstone are extremely important because as we found out, with the global pandemic of Covid-19, we cannot address infectious diseases and those kinds of diseases in our own particular country. It is really an international problem. And therefore, we need to address it from international perspectives. And so this interaction is extremely beneficial for research, for exchanging scientists, for exchanging ideas. And therefore bringing forward new collaborations and new solutions to global health."
Testimonials from Nevan Krogan, Director of UCSF-Quantitative Biosciences Institute, and Melanie Hamon, Head of Chromatin & Infection Unit at the Institut Pasteur, both PI leaders on Pasteur-UCSF-Gladstone Institutes Program. Coyright: Jeanne Fenouil/Institut Pasteur
Promising results
To date, Pasteur-UCSF-Gladstone Institutes Program has yielded significant results:
- Ongoing Research: More than 20 research projects involving French and American teams.
- Scientific Publications: 12 publications in high-level scientific journals concerning Influenza A (identification of viral host targets), SARS-CoV-2 (i.e. Existing drugs can prevent SARS-CoV-2 from hijacking cells), HIV-1 (better understanding of HIV-1 replication in human lymphocytes)…
- Scientific Exchanges: Research stays for scientists (mini-sabbaticals) and regular webinars to share research advancements.
Olivier Schwartz, Head of Virus & Immunity Unit, Institut Pasteur
The collaboration between UCSF-QBI and the Institut Pasteur is already a great success, with 20 joint research projects and a dozen publications in a few years, covering topics such as Influenza A, Covid-19, HIV or Autism. The collaboration will continue alongside our new partner, Gladstone, to fight infectious diseases.
Scientific exchanges: bridging Paris and San FranciscoThanks to the $200K Research America Prize awarded to Dr. Krogan, we facilitated scientific exchanges, with five mini sabbaticals at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and Gladstone Institutes, and three at Institut Pasteur (IP) in Paris. These exchanges not only enriched collaborative research but also strengthened the transatlantic scientific community we are building. Read their stories here.  |
The Gladstone Institute of Virology's involvement
The Gladstone Institute of Virology joined the initiative in 2024, further strengthening the collaboration and the scope of the program. This new alliance enables us to better address global challenges related to infectious diseases by combining expertise in synthetic virology, immunology, and vaccine development.
Melanie Ott, Senior Vice President, Gladstone Institutes
The inclusion of Gladstone Institutes in the Pasteur-UCSF initiative will strengthen our long-standing relationships with both, QBI and Institut Pasteur, and will facilitate important synergistic research in infectious diseases between the three institutes. Bringing Gladstone into this partnership will further enhance our ability to drive groundbreaking discoveries and translate them into impactful solutions on a global scale.
An international commitment
The collaboration between the Institut Pasteur, QBI-UCSF, and the Gladstone Institute of Virology is an example of the Institut Pasteur's commitment to promoting high-level international collaborations. For over 140 years, the Institut Pasteur has championed the quality of research and support for the global scientific community, particularly within initiatives like "Stand Up for Science."
The « Pasteur-UCSF-Gladstone Institutes Center » is an example of what high-level international collaborations can achieve. By gathering world experts and pooling resources and cutting-edge technologies, this program paves the way for new breakthroughs in the fight against infectious diseases. The combined efforts of the Institut Pasteur, QBI-UCSF, and the Gladstone Institute of Virology promise a bright future for combating infectious diseases.
In 2025, more than ever, we will pursue joint grant opportunities and continue to look for agencies that can cross continent collaborations in infectious diseases.
Yasmine Belkaid, President of the Institut Pasteur (Paris)
This partnership is an excellent example of the quality of international collaborations the Institut Pasteur has always promoted since its creation, for the benefit of everyone’s health. What really matters is the strong scientific partnership between the institutes and their numerous achievements in infectious disease research. It highlights our strength in this field, aligned with our first strategic priority for 2030. Additionally, this collaboration naturally fits within our commitment to defending science and unwavering support for the American scientific community.
Photo at top of page. From left to right:
- Olivier Schwartz and Mélanie Hamon (PI-leaders of the program - Institut Pasteur)
- John Young (Nevan Krogan's advisor - QBI-UCSF)
- Yasmine Belkaid (President - Institut Pasteur)
- Nevan Krogan (Director - QBI-UCSF; PI-leader of the program)
- Céline Périer (Program manager)
- Vanesa Saric (Philanthropy Office - QBI-UCSF)
Copyright: Institut Pasteur
