Laboratory of Excellence ParaFrap

France has a long tradition in parasitology research with outstanding discoveries. Laveran received in 1907 the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the protozoan parasite that causes malaria and Charles Nicolle first described Toxoplasma in 1908. Today, the French parasitology community is also pleased that two ParaFrap participants are close collaborators of the 2011 Nobel Prize Jules Hoffmann.

Combining the state-of-the-art of fundamental research and translational applications we expect to defeat major parasitic diseases such as malaria, toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis, African trypanosomiasis, amoebiasis and theileriosis

Research in parasitology is multidisciplinary. In addition to molecular biology, cellular biology and biochemistry, it includes, at least in the major human diseases, a strong component of immunology in addition to field epidemiology, clinical research and human and vector genetics. New scientific opportunities are provided by the recently available genome information for most major parasites and their hosts. Combining the state-of-the-art of fundamental research and translational applications, we expect to defeat major parasitic diseases such as malaria, toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis, African trypanosomiasis, amoebiasis and theileriosis.