CERIMED European Center for Research in Medical Imaging

What CERIMED European Center for Research in Medical Imaging does

CERIMED (Centre Européen de Recherche en Imagerie Médicale) is a publicly-funded multidisciplinary medical imaging research platform located on the Campus Santé Timone in Marseille, France. Founded in 2005 by CERN physicist Dr Paul Lecoq, inaugurated in 2014, and formally structured as a Mixed Service Unit (UMS 2012 AMU CNRS) jointly managed by Aix-Marseille University and CNRS since 2019, it operates under a Scientific Interest Group governance with AP-HM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, and Centrale Marseille. The platform occupies a 2,600 m² three-level facility equipped with a Siemens Magnetom Prisma 3T MRI, Discovery 710 Elite PET/CT, Optima NM/CT 640 SPECT/CT, dual cyclotrons (one commercial, one R&D), and a suite of preclinical imaging systems (Mediso NanoScan PET/CT and SPECT/CT, Vevo 2100 ultrasound, the CPPM-developed tomXgam mechatronics bench), backed by 200TB storage and a 160-core Xeon / 5,120-CUDA-core compute cluster.

The platform is organized around five departments: Technological (instrumentation prototyping), Radiopharmaceutical (cyclotron-based GMP PET tracer production with Advanced Accelerator Applications/Novartis-3A), Preclinical (multimodal small-animal imaging and interventional radiology), Clinical (3T MRI, SPECT/CT, PET/CT), and Tertiary (administration, training, quality). Services span preclinical imaging, clinical imaging, radiopharmaceutical development and production, instrumentation development, and training programs delivered in partnership with AMU's NewDeal Master and DESU Preclinical In Vivo Imaging curricula. CERIMED holds ISO 9001:2015, NF X50-900:2016, IBiSA, ASN, and ARS authorizations, has produced 478 PubMed-indexed publications, and operates 21 active protocols (15 clinical, 6 technological) across neurosciences, oncology, and cardiology.

CERIMED runs a quote-based professional services model with multi-year contracts and collaborative conventions, serving academic and public research institutions, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and hospital clinical services. Pricing is determined per project across the five departments and is not publicly disclosed. The center has no disclosed revenue, no venture capital or private equity participation, and is sustained by institutional funding from AMU, CNRS, AP-HM, and competitive grants alongside industrial service contracts. Its competitive positioning is built on the unique co-location of preclinical and clinical imaging, on-site GMP radiopharmaceutical production, instrumentation prototyping, and integrated quality certifications.

Name

CERIMED European Center for Research in Medical Imaging

Legal name

Centre Européen de Recherche en Imagerie Médicale

Website

https://cerimed-web.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CERIMED is a publicly-funded multidisciplinary medical imaging research platform in Marseille, France, jointly operated by Aix-Marseille University and CNRS, providing preclinical and clinical imaging, GMP radiopharmaceutical production, and instrumentation prototyping to academic and industrial partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Imaging Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLACAOAN

Regulatory Submissions & Clinical Content Management (eCTD/Publishing)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Digital Health & Health IT/Clinical Trials & Research Informatics (eCOA/ePRO/EDC)

SECONDARYEDAOAJAO

Clinical Research Support (CRC/CTA)

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Healthcare Allied & Clinical Support Training

SECONDARYEDAGANAJ

Healthcare & Clinical Professional Development (CME/CE)

Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Professional Development & Training Materials

Keywords

• Medical imaging research
• Preclinical imaging services
• Radiopharmaceutical development
• Clinical imaging platform
• Imaging instrumentation R&D

Headquarters

HQ city

Marseille

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Research Services and Prestations: CERIMED provides fee-based research services to academic and industrial clients for preclinical and clinical imaging, including contract research, imaging acquisition, protocol development, and data analysis. Service requests are handled via a quote request system.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CERIMED is a multidisciplinary research platform providing preclinical and clinical medical imaging services, radiopharmaceutical development, and imaging instrumentation prototyping. It operates five interconnected departments (Technological, Radiopharmaceutical, Preclinical, Clinical, and Tertiary) and offers fee-based research services to academic institutions and biotechnology/pharmaceutical companies, including imaging acquisition, protocol development, data analysis, and contract research.

Product overview

CERIMED is a multidisciplinary research platform providing comprehensive medical imaging services organized around five interconnected departments: Preclinical R&D, Clinical R&D, Radiopharmaceutical R&D, Instrumentation R&D, and Training. The center integrates advanced imaging modalities including microSPECT/CT, microPET/CT, clinical SPECT/CT, clinical PET-CT, 3T MRI, and high-frequency ultrasound, supported by in-situ cyclotron facilities for radiopharmaceutical production. Services range from preclinical proof-of-concept studies to clinical validation, offering academic and industrial clients access to imaging infrastructure, expertise, and regulatory-compliant research environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Preclinical R&D Services Comprehensive preclinical imaging services for small animals (rodents) and large animals (pigs, non-human primates), including multimodal molecular imaging (microSPECT/CT, microPET/CT), high-frequency ultrasound, fluorescence/bioluminescence imaging, and interventional radiology, for academic researchers and biotechnology/pharmaceutical clients.
• Clinical R&D Services Clinical research imaging services encompassing magnetic resonance imaging (3T MRI), molecular imaging (SPECT/CT, PET/CT), and multimodal clinical imaging for academic and industrial partners, supporting clinical trial imaging and theranostics applications.
• Radiopharmaceutical R&D Services Radiopharmaceutical development and production services including PET radiotracer GMP production, cyclotron-based isotope production, and quality control, with commercial production partnership with Advanced Accelerator Applications (Novartis-AAA).
• Instrumentation R&D Services Technical laboratory for assembly, integration and validation of innovative imaging system prototypes, featuring assembly hall, mechanics workshop, electronics workshop, optics workshop, grey room, CAD room, and server room facilities.
• Training and Education Services Theoretical and practical training programs in medical imaging techniques, including partnership with Master Medicine & Health Products (NewDeal) and DESU Preclinical In Vivo Imaging courses at Aix-Marseille University.

Quantifiable outcome

• 478 scientific publications produced through CERIMED research activities
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VECT-HORUScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 November 2020VECT-HORUS, a biotechnology company designing and developing vectors for targeted delivery of therapeutic molecules and imaging agents, signed a collaboration agreement with CERIMED to support the preclinical development of VECT-HORUS' theragnostic agents. This collaboration leverages CERIMED's preclinical imaging infrastructure and radiopharmaceutical capabilities.
• Aix-Marseille University (AMU)coreOthers · 21 April 2011Aix-Marseille University is the founding institutional operator of CERIMED. On January 1, 2019, CERIMED became UMS 2012 AMU CNRS, a Mixed Service Unit under AMU and CNRS. AMU provides strategic support, continuous improvement direction, and technological platform system support.
• Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)coreOthers · 21 April 2011CNRS is a founding institutional partner of CERIMED's Scientific Interest Group (GIS) structure and co-operator of UMS 2012 AMU CNRS. CNRS research engineers (Jean-Luc Anton, Bruno Nazarian, Julien Sein) staff the center's MRI and imaging operations.
• Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2011AP-HM is the largest hospital group in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region and a founding partner of CERIMED's Scientific Interest Group. AP-HM provides clinical integration, nuclear medicine services (through Pr Eric Guedj), interventional radiology, and radiopharmacy coordination. AP-HM also awards recognition such as the AP-HM Innovation Prize.
• Institut Paoli-Calmettes (IPC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2011Institut Paoli-Calmettes, a public cancer-fighting center, is a signatory of CERIMED's Scientific Interest Group (GIS), contributing oncology research expertise and clinical validation capabilities to the imaging platform.
• Centrale Marseille (ECM)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2011Centrale Marseille is a founding partner of CERIMED's Scientific Interest Group, contributing engineering expertise, particularly in mechanics, electronics, and computing through the CPPM technical services that support the Technological department.
• Advanced Accelerator Applications (AAA, Novartis company)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2009AAA installed two cyclotrons (one for commercial production, one for R&D) and three radiopharmaceutical laboratories within CERIMED. AAA develops a commercial radiotracer production site for France and neighboring countries while also engaging in R&D within the center through radiochemists and pharmacists. A partnership between AAA and Aix-Marseille University enables shared premises and equipment.
• Centre IRM-INT (Institut des Neurosciences de la Timone)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe IRM-INT center provides CERIMED with MRI 3T (SIEMENS Magnetom Prisma) capabilities and operates within CERIMED's Clinical department. It is labeled by Aix-Marseille University and is one of the founding platforms of the REMI network (Multicentric Mutual Aid Network in MRI).
• France Life Imaging (FLI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFLI is a winner of the 'Investissements d'Avenir' (Future Investments) program for a Biology and Health Infrastructure. Created in 2012 to promote innovative biomedical imaging technologies and associated services, FLI is coordinated by CEA and brings together academic and industrial partners including CERIMED.
• IBiSA (Informatique et Biologie des Systèmes pour l'Analyse)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBiSA coordinates the national labeling and support policy for Platforms and Infrastructures in Life Sciences. CERIMED was labeled IBiSA on November 12, 2014. GIS IBISa provided operational support for CERIMED's quality approach implementation.
• DHU-ImagingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDHU-Imaging is one of 5 Hospital-University Departments labeled by the A*MIDEX foundation, with support from AMU, AP-HM, CNRS, Inserm, Centrale Marseille, and CEA. It groups biomedical imaging forces across the Aix-Marseille area and is at the core of CERIMED's institutional ecosystem.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NeuroSpin (CEA): CEA's NeuroSpin is a French neuroimaging research platform running very high-field MRI systems (e.g., 7T and 11.7T) for neuroscience and clinical research. Like CERIMED it is a publicly-funded French imaging platform offering open access infrastructure to academic and industrial users.
• CIBM (Centre for Biomedical Imaging, Switzerland): CIBM is a Swiss inter-unciplinary biomedical imaging platform integrating MRI, PET, ultrasound and computational imaging research across academic and clinical sites. It is comparable to CERIMED in operating as a multi-modality imaging research hub serving academic and industrial partners.
• MIRCen (CEA/Inserm): MIRCen (Molecular Imaging Research Center) is a French preclinical molecular imaging facility at CEA/Inserm specializing in PET/SPECT imaging in non-human primates and rodent models for translational neuroscience. It directly overlaps with CERIMED's preclinical imaging and radiochemistry activities.
• Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier (IRCM / INSERM): IRCM is a French academic cancer research center with preclinical/clinical imaging infrastructure and a translational focus on oncology. It is comparable to CERIMED's oncology research protocols (5 ongoing clinical protocols) and cross-modality imaging capabilities.
• Mediso Medical Imaging: Mediso (Hungary) develops and operates preclinical PET, SPECT and CT systems (NanoScan, NanoSPECT) and provides preclinical imaging services. Comparable to CERIMED because its NanoScan and NanoSPECT platforms are deployed at CERIMED, and Mediso's preclinical CRO arm offers similar contract imaging services.

Broad incumbents

• Charles River Laboratories: Charles River is a major global preclinical CRO offering preclinical imaging (PET, MRI, ultrasound) and integrated discovery-to-IND drug development services. Comparable to CERIMED for biotech and pharma clients seeking outsourced preclinical imaging, but at materially larger scale and broader service portfolio.
• IBA (Ion Beam Applications): IBA is a Belgian global leader in cyclotron technology, radiopharmaceutical production solutions and integrated PET imaging centers. Comparable to CERIMED via its cyclotron-based isotope production and PET-dedicated facility business, though it operates at significantly larger scale and focuses on equipment/PET-center delivery rather than contract research.
• Advanced Accelerator Applications (Novartis): AAA (now part of Novartis) is a global radioligand therapy leader (Pluvicto, Lutathera) with its own cyclotron and radiopharma production sites. Comparable as CERIMED's principal commercial radiopharma partner and the dominant Europe-based commercial counterpart to CERIMED's R&D imaging services.
• Evotec: Evotec is a global discovery and preclinical CRO with in vivo pharmacology and translational imaging services for biotech and pharma. Comparable to CERIMED for outsourced contract research services serving industrial drug-development programs, though with significantly broader service breadth.
• Bruker BioSpin: Bruker BioSpin manufactures preclinical and clinical MRI systems (including high-field research magnets) and offers related imaging solutions. Comparable to CERIMED as a vendor and research-platform counterpart in preclinical and clinical MRI instrumentation, though its primary business is equipment rather than contract services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cerimed
• Facebookfacebook.com/cerimedweb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cerimed-amu

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CERIMED European Center for Research in Medical Imaging