Adhesion and Inflammation Lab - LAI (INSERM U1067 | CNRS UMR 7333)

What Adhesion and Inflammation Lab - LAI (INSERM U1067 | CNRS UMR 7333) does

The Adhesion and Inflammation Lab (LAI, INSERM U1067 / CNRS UMR 7333) is a French public research laboratory jointly operated by INSERM, CNRS, and Aix-Marseille University, with two physical sites in Marseille: the primary research campus at Luminy in the Calanques National Park and the clinical-transfer site at the Timone hospital. Founded in 1994 by Pierre Bongrand to develop integrated research at the interface between medicine and physics, the lab is a multidisciplinary unit of approximately 45 members — including 13 Principal Investigators, 12 technical staff, and 18 PhD students and postdocs — combining physics, biology, and medicine expertise to produce quantitative understanding of cell function, with emphasis on cell adhesion, migration, and immune-system mechanics. Research is organized across five themes: molecular interactions, mechanics and signal transduction, cell migration and guidance, immune cell versus target, biophysical methods, and clinical transfer.

LAI's core technology stack is biophysical measurement at the single-molecule and single-cell level: laminar flow chambers, atomic force microscopy (including high-speed AFM), optical tweezers, microfluidics (including microvalve gradient generators and cell rheometry), Reflection Interference Contrast Microscopy (RICM), traction force microscopy, and high-speed force spectroscopy. On top of this instrumentation, the lab has released software tools including Celldetective (an AI-enhanced image-analysis tool for cell interactions, published in eLife 2025) and OT_Analysis (automated force-curve analysis for optical tweezers, 2023), and holds patents covering AFM cantilever excitation, immunofluorescence imaging analysis, comet-assay calibrators, and micro-imprinting of antibodies for cellular phenotyping.

The lab has no commercial revenue model; it is funded entirely through French national research institutions (INSERM, CNRS, Aix-Marseille University), competitive regional, national, and European grants, and clinical-transfer collaborations with CHU Marseille Timone, Institut Paoli Calmettes, and other Marseille biomedical partners. Its primary customers are the academic research community (fundamental immunology, mechanotransduction, parasitology, neurobiology), with a secondary focus on clinical and medical research users who adopt microfluidic and biophysical methods for diagnostic development (allergy testing, CAR-T activation quantification). Go-to-market is community-led: peer-reviewed publications, conferences, academic collaborations, and direct hospital research partnerships.

Name

Adhesion and Inflammation Lab - LAI (INSERM U1067 | CNRS UMR 7333)

Legal name

Adhesion and Inflammation Lab (LAI) / INSERM U1067 CNRS UMR 7333

Website

https://labadhesioninflammation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Adhesion and Inflammation Lab (LAI) is a French public research laboratory jointly operated by INSERM, CNRS, and Aix-Marseille University, conducting multidisciplinary biophysical research on cell adhesion, migration, and immune-system mechanics, and developing quantitative biophysical tools, software, and clinical-transfer diagnostics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biomedical Research

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), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

AI/ML Platforms for Drug Discovery & Experiment Optimization (HLAGAJAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

SaMD – Imaging & Signal Analysis (AI/ML) (HLACANAG), Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE), Liquid Handling & Laboratory Automation (Pipettes, Robots, Workstations) (HLAGAIAD)

Keywords

• Cell adhesion research
• Biophysical methods
• Immunology research
• Mechanotransduction
• Microfluidic devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Marseille

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: The laboratory is primarily funded through French national research institutions including INSERM (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale), CNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique), and Aix-Marseille University. Additional funding comes from competitive research grants, European projects, and regional funding bodies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Adhesion and Inflammation Lab (LAI) is a French public multidisciplinary research laboratory that conducts fundamental biophysical research on cell adhesion, migration, and immune system function, applying physical concepts and quantitative methodologies at the interface of physics, biology, and medicine. The lab develops specialized research tools (laminar flow chambers, microfluidic devices, optical tweezers, AFM), AI/software products (Celldetective, OT_Analysis), and patented technologies, while transferring findings to clinical applications through hospital partnerships.

Product overview

The Adhesion and Inflammation Lab (LAI) is a multidisciplinary research institution (INSERM U1067 / CNRS UMR 7333) focused on quantitative biophysical research at the interface of physics, biology, and medicine. Rather than commercial products, the lab develops research tools, software, and methodologies including Celldetective (AI-enhanced image analysis), OT_Analysis (optical tweezers analysis software), and laminar flow chamber techniques. These tools support their core research on cell adhesion, migration, mechanotransduction, and immune cell function. The lab also holds patents for high-speed atomic force microscopy methods and immunofluorescence analysis software.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Celldetective AI-enhanced image analysis tool for analyzing dynamic cell interactions in immunological research, combining computer vision with quantitative microscopy.
• OT_Analysis Software for rich analysis of force curves when probing living cells with optical tweezers, enabling quantitative measurement of mechanical properties.
• Laminar Flow Chamber Experimental apparatus for quantifying molecular interactions and bond kinetics at single-molecule level under force conditions, used for studying TCR-pMHC and antibody-antigen interactions.
• High-Speed AFM Cantilever Excitation Method Patented method for the excitation of the cantilever of high-speed atomic force microscope, enabling high-speed AFM measurement capabilities.
• Immunofluorescence Imaging Analysis Software Patented software enabling automated immunofluorescence imaging analysis with AI assistance for antibody detection and quantification.
• Microfluidic Gradient Generators Microvalve-based gradient generators for flow-free, time-zero and long-term experimental conditions in cell migration studies.

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• University of Oxford (UK) - van der Merwe and Dushek labscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research on T lymphocyte activation by TCR, fundamental immunology research combining experimental and theoretical approaches
• CIML (Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaborations on membrane dynamics, T lymphocyte signaling, and immunology research with various teams including He, Marguet, Milpied
• CRCM (Cancer Research Center of Marseille)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShared facilities and collaborative research, including work on junctional adhesion molecules in tumor/host interactions
• CHU Marseille TimonecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerClinical transfer of research findings, hospital-based immunology laboratory partnerships for medical diagnostics development
• Institut Paoli Calmettes (Marseille)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on CAR-T activation quantification with Pr. Chabannon, developing prototype for immune cell analysis
• NUS Singapore - Mechanobiology InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPostdoctoral collaboration with J. Prost on mechanobiology research
• Leiden University (Netherlands) - Prof. T. Schmidt labmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical postdoctoral training and collaboration on plasma membrane dynamics and single molecule stimulation
• Geneva Medical Faculty (Switzerland) - Prof. B.A. ImhofmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSabbatical collaboration on in vivo study of lymphocyte interactions with their environment
• LiPhy Grenoble (C. Misbah, A. Farutin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheoretical collaboration on amoeboid cell swimming and molecular paddling mechanisms
• Clemson University - CJ DarnaultmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on transport dynamics of coccidia in soils
• UNAM Mexico - Pr. Fioderlisio-CollmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on mechanobiology of fibrosis and cancer research
• Princeton University - Paul Chaikin's labmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical visitor scientist placement for Marie-Pierre Valignat (2002-2005) on cell migration research
• IBDM Marseille - S. TlilimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on cell directed migration and theoretical modeling
• LaDHyX Palaiseau - J. HussonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on parasite/coccidians mechanics and immune cell interaction research
• CNRS International Research Project BioPhysImmuno (FR/MEX)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research project coordinated by Pierre-Henri Puech for France-Mexico scientific collaboration

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• 10x Genomics: Single-cell and immunology analysis platform serving many of the same academic research customers as LAI, though with a genomics/molecular barcoding focus rather than biophysics.
• Bruker: Manufactures atomic force microscopes and high-speed AFM systems that LAI uses (and whose cantilever-excitation method LAI patented). Broad life-science instrumentation incumbent supplying similar biophysics labs worldwide.
• Standard BioTools (formerly Fluidigm): Provides mass cytometry and single-cell immunology instrumentation; comparable end-customers in academic immunology labs and shared focus on immune-cell characterization.
• Sartorius: Major lab-instruments and bioprocessing vendor whose cell-analysis portfolio (e.g., Incucyte, iQue) serves immunology research labs similar to LAI's downstream users.
• Carl Zeiss Microscopy: Leading microscopy instruments vendor whose products underpin LAI's RICM and fluorescence workflows. Comparable as a provider of the underlying optical/imaging infrastructure for the lab's research.

Emerging players

• Nanolive: Swiss label-free, live-cell imaging company using holotomographic microscopy — comparable to LAI's imaging-based cell-interaction analysis and shared end-market of mechanobiology/immunology labs.
• Cytovale: Commercial immune-cell diagnostics company (IntelliSep sepsis test) using biophysical/morphological cell properties — comparable to LAI's translational microfluidic diagnostic work and shared interest in rapid immune-cell phenotyping.

Direct peers

• LUMICKS: Commercializes optical-tweezers and single-molecule biophysics instruments (C-Trap, AFS), which overlap with LAI's core methods for studying molecular interactions and cell mechanics. Direct comparability on technology stack and customer base (immunology/mechanobiology labs).

Regional players

• Centre d'Immunologie Marseille-Luminy (CIML): INSERM/CNRS/AMU immunology research center on the same Luminy campus, a long-standing LAI collaborator. Comparable as a fundamental immunology research unit with shared institutional affiliation and overlapping research themes (T-cell signaling, membrane dynamics).
• Mechanobiology Institute (NUS): Singapore-based mechanobiology research center and LAI's listed international collaborator. Comparable as a multidisciplinary biophysics/immunology research unit with similar instrumentation and talent profile.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/labadhesioninflammation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Adhesion and Inflammation Lab - LAI (INSERM U1067 | CNRS UMR 7333)