• Research,

Sophie Limou appointed Junior Member of the 'Institut universitaire de France (IUF)'

From 1 October 2026, Sophie Limou, a professor at Centrale Nantes, will join the 'Institut universitaire de France (IUF)' as a Junior Member. This nomination recognises the excellence of her research and the quality of her academic project.

on June 3, 2026

A research project focusing on kidney transplantation

The appointment of Sophie Limou is based in particular on a research project focusing on one of the main causes of long-term failure in kidney transplants: chronic graft rejection.

Following a kidney transplant, the patient’s immune system may recognise the transplanted organ as a foreign body and gradually attack it over time. This phenomenon, known as chronic rejection, can occur several years after transplantation and lead to a gradual deterioration in the function of the kidney graft.

To better understand the mechanisms underlying this rejection, Sophie Limou is developing an approach combining high-throughput molecular biology, artificial intelligence and the analysis of clinical data from the follow-up of transplant patients.

The objective is threefold:

  • to better understand why some patients develop chronic rejection whilst others retain a functional graft for many years;
  • to identify new therapeutic targets that could
  • to identify blood markers that enable earlier prediction and diagnosis of rejection and allow treatments to be tailored to each patient.

Ultimately, this research could contribute to the development of more personalised medicine for people who have undergone a kidney transplant.



Illustration showing, on the left, the recipient’s two diseased kidneys and the transplanted kidney. On the right, a close-up of the transplanted kidney: anti-donor antibodies produced by the donor’s cells attack the recipient’s immune cells

A simplified illustration of the rejection mechanism (in French)

Recognition for research conducted at Centrale Nantes

This appointment highlights the quality of the research carried out at Centrale Nantes and its contribution to major health challenges. It also provides Professor and researcher Sophie Limou with the resources to continue and expand her work, which has the potential to make a significant impact on our understanding of and care for transplant patients.

Thanks to this appointment, she will continue her research at Centrale Nantes and the Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology (CR2TI) whilst contributing to the missions of the Institut universitaire de France.

The IUF: supporting high-level research

Established in 1991, the Institut universitaire de France aims to promote the development of high-level research within public higher education institutions.

Each year, the IUF honours lecturers and researchers in two categories: Junior Members and Senior Members.

Junior Members are selected for the excellence and potential of their research work, whilst Senior Members are recognised for their overall scientific career.

The 200 lecturers and researchers are selected by independent international panels on the basis of the quality of their work and their research projects.

Appointed for a five-year term, IUF members continue their work at their institutions whilst benefiting from resources that allow them to devote more time to their research.

Beyond supporting scientific excellence, the IUF also contributes to several key priorities: encouraging greater female participation in research, strengthening the dissemination of knowledge, supporting the training of young researchers, and promoting a balanced distribution of research across the country.

Published on June 3, 2026 Updated on June 3, 2026

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