What Institut NeuroMyogène does

Institut NeuroMyogène (INMG) is a French public academic research institute headquartered on the third floor of the Rockefeller Building, 8 avenue Rockefeller, 69008 Lyon, occupying approximately 6,000 m² on the Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 campus. It was constituted by the joint action of three supervisory authorities — Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, the CNRS, and INSERM — and groups two joint research units (MeLiS, CNRS UMR5284 – INSERM U1314, and PGNM, CNRS UMR5261 – INSERM U1315) and one research support unit (INMG-AR, CNRS UAR2204 – INSERM US049, created April 2021). Together the units house roughly 18–19 research teams across neuromuscular and neuronal pathophysiology, with PGNM alone reporting 132 members, and operate under directors Laurent Schaeffer (PGNM), Jean-Louis Bessereau (MeLiS), and Andrée Defours (INMG-AR).

INMG's core technology and research platform spans advanced microscopy (super-resolution, dSTORM, expansion, bi-photon, light sheet, electron microscopy), proprietary reagents such as Everspark 1.0/2.0 dSTORM buffers, SpheroRuler calibration spheres, and the Eternity-PLUS Buffer co-developed with Bruker, plus a multi-species experimental toolkit (Drosophila, C. elegans, zebrafish, chicken, rodent, human). The institute also runs the CBC BIOTEC biobank with over 50,000 cryopreserved patient cell lines spanning 500+ pathologies and 400+ annual muscle biopsies, a longitudinal human-tissue asset accumulated since 1972. Research is organized around three axes: physiology and cell biology of the neuromuscular system, cellular and molecular neurobiology, and nuclear dynamics.

INMG is not a commercial entity and sells no products. Its funding flows from public research grants, supervisory body allocations, technology transfer through SATT Pulsalys and CNRS Innovation, training revenue via CNRS Formation Entreprises, and select industrial collaborations (Idylle, Bruker, Roche, Sysnav, Cytoo, EnyoPharma within the RHU SMART consortium). Its primary beneficiaries are academic and clinical stakeholders — including national reference centers for rare cardiac rhythm disorders, developmental anomalies, and neuromuscular diseases — plus biotech and pharma partners that consume its cell lines, microscopy platforms, and translational outputs.

Name

Institut NeuroMyogène

Legal name

Institut NeuroMyoGène

Website

https://inmg.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Institut NeuroMyogène (INMG) is a French public research institute in Lyon jointly run by CNRS, INSERM, and Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, conducting fundamental and translational research on neuromuscular and neuronal pathophysiology via advanced microscopy, multi-species models, and a 50,000+ cell-line biobank.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Translational Medicine & Biomarkers (HLAIALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Neurogenetics & Rare Neurologic Diseases (HLAKAIAO), Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE)

Keywords

• Neuromuscular disease research
• Neuroscience research services
• Cellular biology research
• Microscopy platform services
• Biomedical translational research

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government research funding: INMG operates as a public research institution funded by CNRS, INSERM, and Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 through joint research units
2. Technology transfer and valuation: Transfer of diagnostics and therapies from laboratories to patients through SATT Pulsalys, with intellectual property protection and industry collaborations
3. Research consortium funding: RHU SMART project endowed with 9.4 million euros funding from Ministry of Health, AFM-Téléthon strategic pole labeling, and international partnerships with CNRS funding

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Institut NeuroMyogène (INMG) is a French public academic research institute that conducts fundamental and translational research on the neuromuscular system and neuronal pathophysiology, combining genetic, molecular, and cellular biology with advanced microscopy across two joint research units (MeLiS and PGNM) and one research support unit (INMG-AR). It provides research platforms (super-resolution microscopy, multi-species experimental models, a CBC BIOTEC biobank of 50,000+ patient cell lines), academic training programs (BSc, MSc at Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1), and transfers proprietary reagents (Everspark buffers, SpheroRuler spheres) and discoveries to industry through SATT Pulsalys, Idylle, and Bruker partnerships.

Product overview

Institut NeuroMyoGène (INMG) is a French research institute comprising three units: INMG-AR (Research Support Unit), MeLiS (Laboratory Mechanisms in Integrated Life Sciences), and PGNM (Laboratory Pathophysiology and Genetics of Neuron and Muscle). The institute does not offer commercial products or services but rather conducts fundamental and applied research in neuromuscular and neuronal pathophysiology, provides scientific training and education, and operates research platforms offering microscopy and cell culture services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CBC BIOTEC Biobank Cryopreserved patient-derived cell line repository at the Cellular Biotechnology Centre providing human neuromuscular cellular models as an alternative to animal experimentation for diagnostic purposes, therapeutic molecule research, cytotoxicity studies, and gene therapy trials. Serves biotech and pharma research customers in need of diverse patient samples for translational drug development.
• Cell Culture Technical Training (via CNRS Formation Entreprises) External cell culture technical training delivered to enterprise customers through CNRS Formation Entreprises (CFE). Targets life sciences industry personnel needing hands-on cell culture expertise and provides structured training services for laboratory and core facility staff.
• Advanced Microscopy Research Platform (LYmaging / PLATIN) Multi-modality microscopy platform offering super-resolution, expansion, bi-photon, light sheet, and electron microscopy technologies for cellular and molecular studies. Supports internal research teams and visiting scientists conducting proof-of-concept experiments (e.g., up to 6 visits per year under Bruker VXL loan agreement).
• Everspark dSTORM Buffers (1.0 and 2.0) Long-life proprietary buffers for 2-color (Everspark 1.0) and 3-color (Everspark 2.0) dSTORM single-molecule localization microscopy, commercialized through Idylle following transfer from CNRS Innovation. Enables extended-duration super-resolution imaging of biological samples for life sciences research and microscopy core facilities.
• SpheroRuler Calibration Spheres Proprietary dark red luminescent calibration spheres (1µm diameter) for super-resolution microscopy, with later versions expanded to multiple colors and diameters. Commercialized through Idylle for use as calibration standards in dSTORM and other high-resolution imaging workflows.
• Eternity-PLUS Buffer Proprietary buffer for three-color nanoscale depth imaging developed in collaboration with Bruker to support VXL super-resolution microscopy applications. Extends dSTORM capabilities to include green channel fluorophores for volumetric multi-color imaging.
• Technology Transfer and IP Commercialization (via SATT Pulsalys) Transfer of diagnostics, therapies, and research innovations from INMG laboratories to industry through the SATT Pulsalys technology transfer organization. Includes intellectual property protection, patent filing, licensing agreements, and incubation of biotechnology companies on INMG laboratory surfaces. Serves industrial partners seeking to commercialize research-derived innovations in neuromuscular disease diagnostics and therapeutics.
• University Academic Programs (BSc and MSc) Coordination of BSc and MSc programs at University of Lyon covering Genetics, Cell Biology, Physiology, Neurosciences, and Biomedical research. Delivers graduate-level coursework in neuromuscular and cellular biology, preparing students for careers in academic and industry research positions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50,000 patient cell lines cryopreserved since 1972 with 400+ muscle biopsies annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.

• Bruker-Nano PartnershipstrategicTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Scientific collaboration agreement signed in 2024 (renewed 2025-2026) between CNRS and Bruker Corporation. Supports Karine Monier's dSTORM super-resolution tools development through VXL microscope loan. Hosts scientists up to 6 times/year for proof-of-concept experiments.
• RHU SMART ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2022Spinal muscular atrophy research consortium led by Pr. Laurent Schaeffer with 9.4 million euros funding. Includes 6 laboratory teams, 2 biotechs (Cytoo, EnyoPharma), 2 industrial groups (Roche, Sysnav), and academic partners from Lyon and Saint-Etienne. Kick-off meeting held May 27, 2022 at Rockefeller Faculty of Medicine.
• MyoNeurALP AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Strategic pole of excellence led by Pr. Laurent Schaeffer for developing multi-scale strategies to understand neuromuscular diseases. Labeled 'strategic pole' by AFM-Téléthon since 2017. Brings together 11+ research teams from Lyon, Clermont Ferrand, Grenoble, and Saint Etienne.
• LIA JIN - Lyon-Ottawa Join Institute for Neuromuscular ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership with CNMD (Centre for Neuromuscular Disease) at University of Ottawa. CNRS-labeled 'Laboratoire International Associé' with annual funding from Lyon University and CNRS for collaborative research programs and team exchanges.
• IdyllestrategicTechnology or IntegrationIndustrial partner for commercialization of dSTORM microscopy innovations since 2020. Four inventions transferred via CNRS Innovation including Everspark buffers and SpheroRuler calibration spheres. Service contracts established and multiple products commercialized.
• SATT PulsalyscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology transfer organization that INMG relies on for promoting and transferring innovations from laboratory to industry, including intellectual property protection.
• FILNEMUSstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network of health for neuromuscular diseases. Active participation by MyoNeurALP actors demonstrates national recognition of research, diagnosis, databases and therapeutic testing expertise.
• RESOCANAUX ConsortiumstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium addressing clinical, genetic, physiopathological and therapeutic aspects of neuromuscular diseases involving ion channels through collaborative research.
• Institute of Myology, ISTEM Stem Cell Institute, GENETHON, Atlantic Gene therapystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerDense network of national collaborations in neuromuscular disease research including major French institutes and gene therapy centers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre: UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health centre focused on congenital and childhood neuromuscular disorders. Closely comparable to INMG's pediatric neuromuscular collaborations (e.g., Centre de Référence des Maladies Neuromusculaires) on genetic diagnosis and translational therapy development.
• Institut de Myologie: Paris-based French neuromuscular disease research center and a current INMG partner. Directly comparable as a translational neuromuscular research institute covering skeletal muscle biology, clinical myology, and rare disease programs, with overlapping patient biobank and gene therapy activities.
• John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre: Newcastle University centre for translational research in neuromuscular diseases, including muscular dystrophies. Highly comparable to INMG's PGNM unit in mandate (genetic neuromuscular disease, biomarker development, clinical partnerships) though operating from the UK.
• Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC): Berlin-based Helmholtz biomedical research center with major programs in molecular medicine, including neuromuscular and cardiovascular disease. Comparable as a multidisciplinary European research institute combining fundamental biology with translational pipelines and industrial partnerships.
• Généthon: Évry-based French gene therapy R&D center and INMG partner within the dense national neuromuscular network. Highly comparable as a translational lab-to-clinic operation focused on rare neuromuscular diseases, with bioproduction capabilities that complement INMG's upstream research.
• MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB): Cambridge-based UK biomedical research institute historically central to the development of super-resolution microscopy (2014 Nobel-linked work). Directly comparable to INMG on the advanced microscopy/reagent axis, with substantially broader structural biology capabilities.
• IGBMC: Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire in Strasbourg — a major French biomedical research unit jointly run by CNRS/INSERM/University of Strasbourg. Directly comparable as a CNRS-affiliated life sciences institute combining genetics, molecular biology, and structural biology with translational outputs.

Regional players

• Karolinska Institutet: Stockholm-based Swedish medical university with substantial neuromuscular and rare disease research activity. Comparable as a publicly funded European life sciences/medical institute, though much broader in scope and far larger in headcount than INMG.
• Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) – Department of Human Genetics: Dutch academic medical centre with strong neuromuscular disease genetics and translational research programs. Comparable as a European neuromuscular research hub, though operating in a different national funding system and patient population.

Broad incumbents

• Institut Pasteur: Paris-based, internationally renowned French biomedical research foundation. Comparable as a French flagship life sciences institution, though far broader in scope; serves as a relevant incumbent for INMG's translational ambition and a likely source of competing talent and grants.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ineuromyogene

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Institut NeuroMyogène