ReUniTeS: Université Bourgogne Europe, a founding partner in a new drive for health research
On 1 September 2026, the William Morey Hospital in Chalon-sur-Saône hosted the launch of ReUniTeS – the University and Regional Health Research Group.
Led by the William Morey Hospital, the Dijon Bourgogne University Hospital, Université Bourgogne Europe and the Mâcon and Auxerre Hospitals, this project is based on a shared commitment: to strengthen health research in regional areas in order to better meet the needs of patients and healthcare professionals.
ReUniTeS offers a new approach to health research by giving regional hospitals a more prominent role in research and innovation. By bringing hospital and university teams closer together, the consortium aims to develop research that is closely aligned with the realities on the ground, facilitate access to medical innovations and transform scientific advances more quickly into practical solutions for patients.
This is what ReUniTeS is all about: the conviction that health research need not be the sole preserve of major university cities, and that a region can become a centre of excellence in research, innovation and training.
Vincent Thomas, President of Université Bourgogne Europe
In Chalon-sur-Saône, this commitment is being put into practice through the creation of an Inserm research laboratory at the William Morey Hospital Centre, affiliated with the CTM – UMR 1231 Inserm, Université Bourgogne Europe.
The laboratory will pursue two main areas of research:
- the prevention of healthcare-associated infections, particularly those involving biofilms, and the ultra-rapid analysis of biopsies
- and biological fluids, using new imaging and microscopy technologies.
This initiative is also accompanied by the development of a regional platform for next-generation microscopy, linked to the UMS BioSanD. Designed as a shared resource, it aims to facilitate access to these technologies and encourage collaboration between hospital staff, academics and scientists.
Supported by the State, the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Regional Health Agency (ARS), the Region, the Department of Saône-et-Loire and the Grand Chalon authority, ReUniTeS is based on collaborative research rooted in the local communities. By pooling expertise and equipment, the laboratory and the platform bridge the gap between scientific expertise and practical needs on the ground, with a clear aim: to foster innovation in healthcare and improve patient care.
