Major Areas of Interest (DIM)
Flagship instruments of the regional research policy implemented by the Île-de-France Region, the Major Areas of Interest (Domaines d’Intérêt Majeur – DIM) aim to bring together networks of laboratories located in Île-de-France working on targeted, accredited thematic areas.
The “Support for Major Areas of Interest” scheme aims to:

• encourage the structuring of teams and research networks in Île-de-France around major research themes of strategic importance for the region
• strengthen the attractiveness of laboratories in Île-de-France through the contribution of scientific and technological expertise and cutting-edge equipment
• improve the visibility of Île-de-France and its research teams at the European and international levels
• stimulate interdisciplinarity and the development of exchanges between research laboratories and economic stakeholders
• strengthen links between research and economic development by promoting technology transfer and innovation
• promote knowledge valorisation and dissemination of research results, including to the general public and young audiences

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The “Major Area of Interest” accreditation aims to structure a network of research stakeholders around a theme that brings together several disciplines.
Focusing on infectiology, DIM-1HEALTH 2.0 was accredited alongside eight other DIMs.

The DIM-1HEALTH 2.0 network coordinates the selection of scientific projects from the Île-de-France research community in the field of infectiology, based on the concept “One World, One Health.”
The “One Health” vision emerged in a context of climate change, global population growth, scarcity of natural resources, and evolving health pressures affecting both human and animal populations. Projects integrating this concept may be proposed for funding by the Île-de-France Region.

DIM-1HEALTH 2.0 is an open network, accessible to any research entity in Île-de-France, whether or not its supervising institution is a partner of the DIM. The only prerequisite is that the application meets the eligibility criteria of the current call for projects.

Its goal is to promote cross-disciplinary, innovative, high-level research on human and/or animal infectious diseases in the context of global changes and their pathophysiology, while encouraging the development of networks composed of Île-de-France research teams with complementary expertise.

DIM-1HEALTH 2.0 aims to structure and federate the activities of researchers, engineers, and academic staff from the Île-de-France Region, with or without the involvement of a private partner engaged in surveillance, epidemiology, health sociology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of infectious diseases, as well as in the study of the microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, parasites, viruses, and prions) that cause them.

It publishes calls for projects to support the development of research involving teams based in Île-de-France.

The objective of DIM One Health 2.0 is therefore to promote innovative research projects, either fundamental or applied, within a “One Health” framework, integrating aspects of human health, environmental health, and animal health, focused on infectious agents and structured around two main axes.

AXIS 1: Origin – Causality/Etiology and Assessment of Infectious Risks

Addressing and assessing infectious risks first requires documenting the multiplicity of relationships between humans, animals, and their environment across diverse contexts. The themes covered under this axis include:

• Understanding host–pathogen interactions
• Environmental impacts (exposome, resistance, climate change) on infections and the pathobiome
• Epidemiological surveillance
• Circulation of animal reservoirs
• (Public) health policies in response to infectious risks
• Legitimacy of scientific discourse

AXIS 2: Intervention – Proposals for Operational Solutions

This axis focuses on diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic aspects related to pathogenic agents. The themes addressed include:

• Diagnostic strategies for infection screening (sequencing, mass spectrometry, bioinformatics tools)
• Epidemiological strategies (modelling)
• Treatment strategies (drug repurposing and discovery of new leads)
• Prevention strategies (vaccine innovation, PrEP, monoclonal antibodies, etc.)
• Communication strategies (knowledge dissemination, vaccine acceptance)
• Social strategies (vulnerable populations)