ANR CIMMAP project

ANR CIMMAP project coordinated by Marie Bodinier

The aim of this project is to characterise the effects of maternal supplementation with prebiotics on the maturation of the immune system and the composition of the intestinal microbiota and milk in order to prevent infantile allergy.

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Allergies affect 30-40% of the world's population. Of these, atopic dermatitis is the most common and early-onset. These allergies are associated with an imbalance in the intestinal flora and a dysfunction of the immune system in newborn babies. By inducing an optimal flora, prebiotics given early in life could prevent allergies.

The ANR CIMMAP project (Characterising the effect of maternal prebiotic supplementation on perinatal Immune system maturation, Gut Microbiota and breast Milk compositions for Allergy Prevention in high-risk children) is a collaborative ANR research project: translational health research.

CIMMAP explores the perinatal period in children at risk of allergy, focusing on:

  • the development of the immune system and microbiota
  • the effects of breast milk on these parameters
  • modulation of the infant immune system by the maternal microbiota and its derivatives
  • the effects of prebiotics on the immune system, microbiota and milk.

A preclinical model will clarify the mechanisms at the organic level.

This project will help refine the pathophysiology of allergies and identify biomarkers of risk and tolerance.
This ancillary study is based on the clinical study PREGRALL, funded by the Ministry of Health, which will be launched in November 2017 and whose aim is to assess the impact of antenatal supplementation with prebiotics (GOS/Inulin) on the prevention of atopic dermatitis in children at risk at one year of age.

See also

CIMMAP brings together scientists (immunologists, microbiologists, physiologists, omics specialists, molecular biologists and statisticians) as well as dermatologists, paediatricians and obstetricians.

The CIMMAP project involves a consortium of 7 partners:

  • the UR BIA of the INRAE Pays de la Loire centre, with M. Bodinier, G. Bouchaud, M. De Carvalho, E. Perrin, O. Tranquet.
  • Nantes University Hospital, with Sébastien Barbarot.
  • UMR MICALIS at the INRAE Jouy-en-Josas centre, with Philippe Langella.  
  • UMR PHAN at the INRAE Pays de la Loire centre, with Bertrand Kaeffer.
  • UMR IBiTec-S in Saclay, with Karine Adel-Patient.
  • UR StatSC at the INRAE Pays de la Loire centre, with Véronique Cariou.
  • HUGOPEREN, he children's health research network of the Grand Ouest region, the CHU de Nantes and the CRNH Ouest de Nantes, with David Riochet, who will be responsible for supporting the overall management of the project.