Ceph - Fondation Jean Dausset

What Ceph - Fondation Jean Dausset does

The Fondation Jean Dausset – CEPH is a French non-profit research foundation (association loi 1901) established in 1984 in Paris, dedicated to studying human genetic polymorphism and supporting research into complex diseases. The foundation operates as an integrated biobank and genomics research organization comprising five core units: the CRB du CEPH (Biological Resources Center) managing human biological samples including DNA and lymphoblastoid cell lines; the Laboratoire de Génomique conducting fundamental, translational, and technological research in cancer genetics, aging, and longevity; the Reference Families Panel (40-61 families, established 1984) for human genome mapping; the HGDP-CEPH Panel containing 1,063 lymphoblastoid cell lines from 1,048 individuals across 52 worldwide populations; and the GenMed Laboratory of Excellence in Medical Genomics. Its principal technical assets include the HGDP-CEPH database with allelic frequency data for over 2 million SNPs representing more than 100 million allelic frequencies, normalized across GRCh37 and GRCh38 assemblies with dbSNP variant verification.

The foundation generates revenue through research grants and collaborative project funding from national and international programs, biobank sample and data access fees negotiated on a per-request basis via collaborative agreements, and public donations via the HelloAsso platform. It serves a horizontally diversified customer base of academic research institutions, healthcare and medical research organizations, and biotechnology companies globally, distributing biological samples and genomic data through direct research collaboration agreements rather than commercial sales channels. The CRB du CEPH holds ISO 20387:2018 biobanking certification combined with ISO 9001:2015 quality management certification, making it the first biobank in the European Union to achieve this dual standard (achieved 2020). The foundation also operates in GDPR/RGPD compliance for personal data handling.

The foundation is governed by an independent council and led by Director Jean-François Deleuze (Ph.D., HDR; since 2012), who also directs the Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine (CNRGH) and coordinates GenMed LabEx and CREFIX within the FMG2025 French Genomic Medicine Initiative. It maintains deep structural collaborations with French national infrastructure (France Génomique, BioCF, INSERM-University mixed units) and international partners including Stanford University, University of Michigan, Max Planck Institute Leipzig, and Harvard, and participates in 14+ active national cohort studies including EPIPAGE 2, Elfe, MyPeBS, and E3N-Générations.

Name

Ceph - Fondation Jean Dausset

Legal name

Fondation Jean Dausset - CEPH

Website

https://fjd-ceph.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fondation Jean Dausset – CEPH is a French non-profit foundation operating a certified biobank and genomics research laboratory in Paris, providing DNA samples, cell lines, and population genomic data to academic, healthcare, and biotechnology researchers worldwide through collaborative research agreements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biobanking and Genomic Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLACAMAG

Biobank & Biospecimen Management LIMS

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Digital Health & Health IT/Laboratory Information Systems (LIS/LIMS) & Pathology Informatics

SECONDARYHLAGANAI

Bioinformatics, Multi-Omics Data Analysis & Interpretation Services

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Life Science Tools & Services (CRO/CDMO/Lab Services)/Specialty Lab Services (Genomics/Proteomics/Cellomics)

Keywords

• Human genetic research
• Biobanking services
• Genomic data resources
• Lymphoblastoid cell lines
• Population genetics

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Collaborative Project Funding: Funding from national and international research programs including collaborative projects like EPIPAGE 2, Elfe, MyPeBS, and other genomic research initiatives
2. Biobank Sample Access Services: Provision of biological samples (DNA, cell lines) and genomic data to academic researchers and institutions through sample access agreements
3. Donations: Public donations through HelloAsso platform to support the foundation's research mission

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Fondation Jean Dausset - CEPH operates as a nonprofit research foundation providing certified biobank services, genomic data resources, and reference DNA collections to the global scientific community. The foundation manages the CRB du CEPH Biological Resources Center for human DNA and lymphoblastoid cell lines, the Laboratoire de Génomique for fundamental and translational research, and the HGDP-CEPH panel covering 52 worldwide populations with over 2 million SNP allelic frequencies. Its primary deliverable is access to well-characterized, ISO-certified reference biological samples and population genomic data for human genetic diversity research.

Product overview

Fondation Jean Dausset-CEPH operates as a biobank and genomic research foundation composed of interconnected units: the CRB du CEPH (Biological Resources Center) managing human biological samples with ISO 20387:2018 certification; the Laboratoire de Génomique conducting fundamental and translational research; the Panel Familles de Référence established in 1984 for genome mapping; the Panel HGDP-CEPH containing cell lines from 52 global populations; and the GenMed LabEx dedicated to genomic medicine. The organization also provides a web-based HGDP-CEPH database for querying allelic frequency data.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GenMed: Laboratoire d'excellence en Génomique Médicale - a laboratory of excellence dedicated to promoting the development of research projects on human pathologies, coordinated by Dr. Jean-François Deleuze.

Products and services

• CRB du CEPH (Centre de Ressources Biologiques) Biological Resources Center managing human biological samples (DNA, cell lines) for scientific research. First biobank in the European Union to obtain and renew ISO 20387:2018 certification, providing sample storage, distribution, and quality-certified biobanking services to research institutions.
• Laboratoire de Génomique Genomics laboratory conducting fundamental, translational, and technological development research projects, including cancer genetics, aging and longevity studies, and microsatellite mutation research. Develops innovative technologies for studying (epi)mutations for the scientific community.
• Panel Familles de Référence du CEPH Reference family panel established in 1984 containing DNA from 40-61 reference families, originally created for human genome mapping. Provided to researchers upon formal access request for genome mapping and linkage studies.
• Panel HGDP-CEPH (Human Genome Diversity Panel) Collection of 1,063 lymphoblastoid cell lines from 1,048 individuals representing 52 populations worldwide, preserved in the CRB du CEPH. Provides allelic frequency data for over 2 million SNPs across global populations to researchers studying human genetic diversity.
• HGDP-CEPH Database Web-based database providing access to allelic frequency data for over 2 million SNP variants across 52 populations and 7 population groups of the HGDP-CEPH panel. Allows queries by marker ID, dbSNP rs number, gene name, or genomic position (GRCh37 or GRCh38) with visualization and CSV export.

Quantifiable outcome

• First biobank in EU to achieve ISO 20387:2018 certification and maintain it through renewal
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• GenMed (Laboratoire d'Excellence)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaboratory of Excellence in Genomic Medical coordinated by Dr. Jean-François Deleuze, dedicated to promoting research projects on human pathologies and development of genomic medicine. The foundation is involved in managing this excellence laboratory.
• France GénomiquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational genomic infrastructure consortium. Jean-François Deleuze is a member of the executive council of France Génomique infrastructure.
• CNRGH (Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CNRGH is directed by Jean-François Deleuze in personal union with CEPH direction, enabling integrated genomics research operations between the two national facilities.
• EPIPAGE 2majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench national cohort study on childhood development and environmental exposures, with CEPH providing biobank services and genetic sample management.
• ElfemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench national longitudinal study following children from birth, with CEPH providing biobank support and genetic resources.
• MyPeBSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational breast cancer screening study evaluating personalized screening strategies, with CEPH contributing biobank expertise.
• BioCF (Biobanque Cohortes Françaises)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquipment of Excellence program for French cohort biobanks. Hélène Blanché-Koch is involved in management of this initiative.
• E3N-GénérationsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench prospective cohort study on cancer and women's health spanning multiple generations.
• C_PREFIX (Centre de Référence d'Innovation et d'Expertise)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReference Center for Innovation and Expertise as part of the French Genomic Medicine Initiative (FMG2025), directed by Jean-François Deleuze since 2019.
• Stanford UniversitymajorTechnology or IntegrationCollaborative generation of 660,918 SNP genotypes using Illumina HuHap 650k platform on 1,043 individuals from HGDP-CEPH panel populations.
• University of MichiganmajorTechnology or IntegrationGeneration of 525,910 tag SNP genotypes using Illumina HuHap550k on 485 individuals from 9 HGDP-CEPH panel populations.
• Max Planck Institute Leipzig (MPI-EVA)majorTechnology or IntegrationMultiple collaborative series including 488,755 SNP genotypes (Affymetrix GeneChip), resequencing data for 14,000 protein-coding regions, and Neanderthal/archaic capture studies.
• Harvard Genetic DepartmentmajorTechnology or IntegrationGeneration of 629,443 SNP data using Affymetrix Axiom Human Origins Array on 934 unrelated HGDP-CEPH individuals.
• INSERM-UniversitéssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMixed INSERM-University research units are hosted temporarily in the IGM building alongside foundation teams.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Inserm: French national institute for health and medical research and the largest public biomedical research organization in France. Broad incumbent because it is the national umbrella body under which many CEPH-associated mixed research units operate and coordinates much of France's translational genomics pipeline that CEPH serves.
• BGI Genomics: China-based large-scale genomics service provider offering sequencing, genotyping and biobanking services globally. Broad incumbent because it competes for genomic data services contracts with pharma and academic customers, and represents the larger-scale, commercially-funded end of the genomics services spectrum against which CEPH's nonprofit model is differentiated.

Direct peers

• deCODE Genetics: Iceland-based population genetics company conducting human genetic variation research on the Icelandic population. Direct peer because it similarly combines biobanking of population-derived samples with large-scale genomics and human genetic polymorphism research for academic and pharmaceutical customers.
• Institut Pasteur: French nonprofit biomedical research foundation headquartered in Paris. Direct peer because it operates under the same association-loi-1901 framework, conducts fundamental biomedical research, hosts internationally renowned researchers, and participates in large-scale national and EU life sciences initiatives — a structurally comparable French research foundation.
• IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer): WHO's specialized cancer research agency coordinating international cohort studies and biobanking of biological samples for cancer epidemiology. Direct peer because it operates a similar internationally-coordinated, publicly-funded biobank model and CEPH contributes biobanking services to IARC-linked cohorts (e.g., MyPeBS-related work).
• CNRGH (Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine): CEA-affiliated French national genomics infrastructure directed by the same individual as CEPH. Direct peer because it operates in the same national genomic infrastructure, shares leadership with CEPH, and together they form France's flagship public human genomics capacity — making them tightly co-located rather than purely competitive.
• UK Biobank: UK-based nonprofit biomedical charity and biobank providing access to large-scale genetic and health data for research. Direct peer because it operates the same fundamental model — certified biobank providing samples and validated data to academic and industry researchers — and is the most direct comparison for population-scale genomics resources.
• Coriell Institute for Medical Research: US-based nonprofit biomedical research institute operating one of the world's largest cell and DNA repositories. Direct peer because it provides certified biological samples (including the CEPH/NIGMS collection historically derived from similar reference families) and genomic services to researchers globally under comparable nonprofit, ISO-certified biobank model.

Emerging players

• 23andMe: US consumer genetics and biopharma company with massive aggregated genotype datasets. Emerging player comparison because, while operating in a different commercial model (DTC + therapeutics), it has built a population-scale genomics resource that competes for the same pharma translational research budget and academic collaboration attention.

Regional players

• Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health: German national research center operating major biobank and population health cohorts. Regional peer because it provides a directly comparable certified biobank + population genomics + cohort study model in another large European national research ecosystem, competing for similar EU funding and academic customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ceph---fondation-jean-dausset

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Ceph - Fondation Jean Dausset