The specific aims of the MI project are to:
(i) define the naturally-occurring variability of human immune response,
(ii) assess how this variation is genetically, epigenetically or environmentally controlled,
(iii) understand how this genetic/phenotypic variation may account for differences in susceptibility to infection, therapeutic treatment or vaccine response, and
(iv) ascertain the variation and role of the microbiota in regulating immune programs.
The MI project was originally divided into four phases:
(ii) assessment of the factors driving immune variation through the recruitment of 1,000 healthy donors,
(iii) definition of the diversity and role of commensal microbiota in regulating immune responses, and
(iv) understanding how this genetic/phenotypic variation may account for differences in susceptibility to infection, therapeutic treatment or vaccine response.
Milieu Intérieur has successfully achieved the initial objectives — in terms of major scientific questions, biobanking, data production, teaching & training, and structuring a new community of trans-disciplinary researchers.
Milieu Intérieur 2 (MI2)
The project is now poised to build on the existing solid foundations established by MI to extend our understanding of how genetics, microbiome and environmental factors determine immune response variability, in an unbiased manner including novel aspects such as profiling extreme age groups and other genetic ancestry populations.
The project — now termed MI2 — includes new collaborations with world-leading researchers and institutes, and the research is organised into 3 specific aims:
- To explore the genetic, microbiome and environmental determinants of immune response variation in the adult population
- To define the drivers of immune response variation in extreme ages and other geographic regions
- To apply a systems immunology approaches to human disease to ensure that relevant clinical discoveries will be translated into improved patient care
