How to access the platform?

1. Contact us
 

Send an e‑mail to pixanim@inrae.fr and briefly indicate:

• Scientific context
• Project objectives
• Experimental or analytical needs
• Desired schedule
• Specific expectations

PIXANIM welcomes projects within its field of expertise: functional exploration of the various biological systems of an animal, from the whole animal down to the biomolecule, covering all intermediate scales.

2. Project study
 

We will reply as soon as possible to arrange an initial meeting (in‑person or remote). This step will allow us to:

• Assess the scientific and technical feasibility of the project
• Define the most appropriate experimental and analytical strategies
• Clarify regulatory constraints
• Draft a provisional schedule
• Define the collaboration framework and the level of involvement for result valorisation

After this first meeting, a summary report (covering the major elements – offers/needs) will be drafted. If the platform can meet your request, a detailed quotation will be sent.

3. Building the collaboration
 

PIXANIM can provide support either as a research collaboration or as a service provision. The nature of this contribution must be defined before the project launch.

Contractualisation, which may involve a “means‑only” or “results‑oriented” obligation and the sharing of intellectual property, can be handled with the help of the Partnership service (partenariat‑vdl@inrae.fr) of the INRAE Val de Loire Centre, based on:

• a Research contract,
• a Research Service contract, or
• a service provision.

The platform’s offers are made within a collaborative framework, including off‑contract work based on a quotation, a purchase order and the associated invoice (for a limited total amount).

4. Project launch
 

The start of the project includes:

• Validation of the specifications defining the required services;
• Validation, when applicable, of regulatory documents (e.g., experimental animal protocol authorisation – APAFiS);
• Validation of the budget estimate through signing the quotation and sending the corresponding purchase order;
• Planning of the work (adjusted to the arrival of the study objects);
• Organisation of the resources needed for the project.

In the context of training (initial or continued), human resources external to PIXANIM may be involved in the work, provided that they are trained and supervised by platform staff.

Collaboration conditions and scientific valorisation
 

When collaborations involve a significant scientific, methodological or technological investment from PIXANIM, the platform’s contribution and the personnel involved must be acknowledged in the scientific valorisation of the results.

Included support
 

PIXANIM can assist you with:

• Project set‑up, especially during the preparation of funding applications for calls for proposals;
• Drafting of technical sections;
• Precise assessment of your financial needs (operations, equipment or personnel);
• Preparation of regulatory documents, notably experimental animal protocol authorisations (APAFiS).

Pricing policy
 

All platform services are billed, including data preservation (backup and archiving).

PIXANIM has established its full (direct and indirect) costs at the infrastructure level. Financial assessments are then adjusted to the project context and take into account:

Quotations are prepared individually based on discussions with project leaders.

The unit prices (excl. VAT) for 2026 of the main offers are given below.

In/Ex vivo MRI imaging

In/ex vivo CT-scan imaging

In/ex vivo endomicroscopy imaging

Echography 3D - doppler

 Molecular imaging - MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Imaging

Accommodation & interventional physiology

Molecular Analysis