CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – DIRECTOR

IHU INFINY – UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL INSTITUTE FOR INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE

The Search Committee of IHU Infiny invites applications for the Director position.

ABOUT IHU INFINY

IHU Infiny is a University Hospital Institute (IHU) created in 2023 as part of the France 2030 program, by Nancy University Hospital, Université de Lorraine, Inserm, and the Greater Nancy Metropolis. It was founded under the scientific leadership of Prof. Laurent Peyrin-Biroulet and is currently led on an interim basis by Prof. Christian Rabaud.
Based in Nancy, France, on the Brabois University Hospital campus, the institute is fully embedded in a leading academic, clinical, and technological environment, and is closely connected to major regional infrastructures as well as national and European research networks.

ℹ️ IHUs are a flagship initiative of France 2030, designed to accelerate medical innovation by tightly integrating basic, translational, and clinical research with healthcare delivery. Each IHU is designed to address complex medical challenges, translating scientific advances into improved care pathways and preventive strategies.
IHUs are collaborative projects designed to structure healthcare and research ecosystems and act as powerful drivers of impact on patient care, medical innovation, and public health at national and international levels.

IHU INFINY: A NEW AMBITION FOR IBD

IHU Infiny is dedicated to inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), which include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. IBD affects over 300,000 people in France and more than 10 million worldwide. Prevalence is rising, especially among young people and in emerging countries. These lifelong conditions impose major burdens on individuals and healthcare systems.

The Institute draws on interdisciplinary expertise in immunology, microbiology, clinical research, precision imaging and, digital health to advance the understanding of IBD pathophysiology and develop innovative, patient-centered therapeutic and prevention strategies. Inflammation, immunity, microbiota, nutrition, and exposome are all explored in an integrated framework.
More than 100 professionals from Inserm, Université de Lorraine, the Nancy University Hospital, and industry partners are involved.

IHU Infiny’s mission is to:

• Empower patients to manage their disease and maintain a good quality of life
• Accelerate diagnosis and reduce delays in accessing appropriate care
• Advance long-term disease control and create the conditions for curative solutions

Key priorities include:

• Understanding the pathophysiology and etiology of IBD (e.g., dysbiosis, immune dysfunction, exposome, and biomarkers)
• Developing personalized, targeted therapies and stratifying patients
• Building innovative models and platforms to advance prevention and precision medicine
• Improving care pathways through holistic approaches and remote monitoring

Governance and funding

IHU Infiny operates under a consortium agreement between its founding members: Nancy University Hospital (lead institution), Université de Lorraine, Inserm, and Métropole du Grand Nancy. Afa Crohn RCH (patient organization) and Région Grand Est are associate members.

The IHU is governed by a Management Board (Conseil de gestion), an international Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). The Director coordinates the institute’s scientific and strategic directions and reports to the Management Board to ensure alignment with its objectives. The Director works closely with the dual scientific leadership: Dr. Benoît Chassaing (basic and translational research) and Dr. Bénédicte Caron (clinical research), ensuring an end-to-end research continuum.

The incoming Director will work with these governance bodies to define strategic priorities, lead teams, and drive implementation.

IHU Infiny has received €10 million over 10 years from France 2030 (with €4 million released for 2023–2026). The remaining funding is contingent on a midterm evaluation in 2027, which will assess progress on governance, private funding, and program delivery.

Additional resources include €6.7 million from the ANR-funded RHU I-DEAL project (focus: remote monitoring and imaging) and €5 million in regional co-funding from Région Grand Est and Métropole du Grand Nancy.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Search Committee welcomes applications from outstanding scientists with the ambition and capacity to lead IHU Infiny to a position of international excellence in IBD research, care, and innovation.

Key responsabilities

The Director will take over during a key phase of growth and development of the Institute.

The Director will:

• Be responsible for leading and managing the scientific, clinical, and strategic development of the Institute, playing a key role in ensuring its national and international scientific and clinical impact
• Build, manage and foster  high-performing multidisciplinary translational teams
• Integrate research, clinical practice, and innovation across all activities, promoting an end-to-end approach from fundamental science to patient-centered solutions
• Represent IHU Infiny and develop strong national and international partnerships

Candidate Profile

Education requirement
PhD, MD-PhD is required

Required qualifications

• International recognition and a strong scientific track record in IBD-related fields
• Proven experience running research units or institutions
• Demonstrated skills in interdisciplinary leadership, and collaborative governance
• Demonstrated success in securing competitive funding
• Experience in translational research, public-private partnerships, and innovation
• A track record of attracting, motivating, and retaining world-class scientific and clinical talent, while building a productive organizational culture
• A strong commitment to innovation and to the translation of research into impact for patients and healthcare systems
• A strong commitment to training and mentoring
• High professional integrity

The position is based in Nancy, France

Under French law, candidates must be under 67 years of age at the end of the first term (4 years, renewable once).

IHU Infiny values equity, diversity, and inclusion, and strongly encourages applications from women and underrepresented groups.

HOW TO APPLY

Search committee:

• Prof. Ailsa HART, BA (Hons) BMBCh FRCP PhD, Professor of Gastroenterology, St Mark’s Hospital Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research, London, UK; IHU Infiny Scientific Advisory Board member
• Prof. Marietta IACUCCI, MD-PhD, Professor of Gastroenterology at University College Cork, Ireland; IHU Infiny Scientific Advisory Board member
• Prof. Richard FRACKOWIAK, Emeritus Professor, University College London; IHU Infiny Scientific Advisory Board member
• Prof. David LAHARIE, MD-PhD, Professor of Gastroenterology, Bordeaux University Hospital, President of GETAID
• Dr. Bénédicte CARON, MD-PhD, Gastroenterologist, Nancy University Hospital; Head of clinical research at IHU INFINY
• Dr. Benoît CHASSAING, PhD, Head of Microbiome Host Interactions at Institut Pasteur; Head of fundamental and translational research at IHU Infiny
• Prof. Pierre-Louis THARAUX, MD-PhD, Deputy Director of the Inserm Institute for Pathophysiology, Metabolism & Nutrition
• Prof. Sébastien RICHARD, Professor of Neurology, President for Research at Nancy University Hospital

Applicants should send CV, list of publications, two-page cover letter, and up to 3 letters of recommendation by 15 October 2025 to: [email protected]

The appointment will be made at the appropriate academic level taking into account experience.

Should candidates have any questions regarding the position, the scientific program, the recruitment process, the institute’s governance and scientific environment, or available institutional or financial resources, they are invited to contact the Search Committee at: [email protected]

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview, including a presentation of their strategic vision.
The Search Committee will make recommendations to the Management Board, which will make the final appointment.

Appointment expected early 2026.