A key player in French research
The Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM, French Foundation for Medical Research) is France's leading general charity funder of medical research. For over 75 years, the FRM has been supporting research projects into all types of disease: cancer, cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases, neurological and psychiatric illnesses, etc.
As an independent organisation, it relies solely on the generosity of its donors, testators, partners and philanthropists. It is recognised as a charitable organisation and has been awarded the Don en Confiance label.
Key figures
- 51M€
allocated by the FRM to research in France in 2024
- 427
new research projects funded in 2024
- 1ST
general charity funder of French medical research
- 1 071
articles published in connection with projects supported by the FRM
Our missionsPromoting strong, innovative biomedical research
SUPPORTING RESEARCH - Founded in 1947 by doctors and researchers, including Professor Jean Bernard, the FRM encourages, selects and funds the most promising medical research projects, adopting a multidisciplinary approach.
INFORMING THE GENERAL PUBLIC - With ambition and determination, the FRM strives to be the link between researchers, doctors, donors, patients and society. Through its information and communication activities, the FRM informs the general public about the advances and the challenges of medical research in France and worldwide.
Our priority funding areasAt the heart of public health issues
An increase in diseases linked to climate change, pandemics, an ageing population... Health is a major challenge for society. The FRM is actively and relentlessly working to anticipate and overcome these issues, by encouraging the scientific community to tackle them through its calls for projects.
In response to these new challenges, the FRM has decided to increase the impact of its support for research into four priority areas:
- acting on neurodegeneration
- preventing the effects of the environment on health
- repairing the human body
- and accelerating research into emerging viruses.
How we workAn expert and rigorous organisation
The FRM has a strong, shared governance structure, made up of different bodies that bring together a wide range of experts and volunteers (with the exception of the Management Board, whose members are salaried employees), ensuring that it carries out its missions and manages its funds with the utmost rigour.
This is particularly true for its Scientific Council, which is responsible for selecting the research projects supported each year. The Council is made up of 32 members, all of whom are recognised researchers and scientists, and is partly replaced every two years.
The FRM also brings together committed staff and volunteers who, at head office and in the regions, ensure the day-to-day running and coordination of the FRM, driven by the desire to take action to advance medical research.
I donate to save lives
The 5 values that guide us
Independence
The FRM is independent of any political, economic or religious power. Its decisions are guided solely by the respect for its social mission, the needs expressed by researchers and respect for its founding principles and values.
Impartiality
The FRM judges the quality of projects submitted with complete impartiality. It puts in place procedures for selecting research projects that guarantee this impartiality.
Excellence
The FRM's ambition is to contribute to the development of cutting-edge French medical research that will lead to medical progress. Scientific excellence and innovation guide the choice of funded research projects.
Transparency
The FRM follows procedures and controls that guarantee the quality of its management and ensure that its donors are fully informed about how their donations are used.
Innovation
The FRM is committed to an ongoing forward-looking approach, particularly in terms of its working methods, scientific information media and the accessibility of scientific data.
Our history
- 1947
creation of the ‘Association pour le développement de la recherche médicale française‘
- 1962
it becomes the ‘Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM)‘ and takes on a national dimension
- 1965
the FRM is recognised as being in the public interest
- 1990
it was awarded the ‘Don en confiance’ label
Over 75 years working alongside researchers
In the aftermath of the Second World War, medical progress was at a standstill and resources were scarce. Jean Bernard, one of the fathers of modern French medicine, Jean Hamburger, a no less illustrious doctor, and a number of other leading French researchers launched the Association pour le développement de la recherche médicale française (Association for the Development of French Medical Research), which 15 years later became the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (Foundation for Medical Research).
Rigour in the management of funds was a constant requirement of its founders, who very quickly imposed strict operating rules and a Scientific Council whose members were elected by the laboratory directors of the major research organisations. This democratic representation of the scientific community, which is unique to the FRM, guarantees the utmost integrity in the allocation of grants to research teams.
Our founders
Jean Hamburger
Co-founder of the FRM, and Vice-Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board until his death in 1992. He was a doctor and a fundamental researcher working into the immunology of kidney disease, transplant immunology and autoimmune diseases. He contributed to maintaining the great French medical tradition with rigour and intelligence.
Jean Bernard
Co-founder of the FRM and member of its administrative board until his death in 2006. A pioneer in bioethics, a renowned specialist in haematology, a member and former president of the ‘Académie des sciences‘, the ‘Académie nationale de médecine‘ and the ‘Académie française‘, he was a wise man and a great humanist.
Claudine Escoffier-Lambiotte
Co-founder, then General Secretary of the FRM. A doctor and journalist, she practically single-handedly invented medical information journalism in the press. The FRM prize for scientific communication now bears her name.
They support usThierry Lhermitte, French actor
I'm passionate about science first and foremost. As I visit the laboratories of the researchers supported by the FRM, my scientific knowledge grows, but I still ask a lot of questions. I work on each subject in detail, because afterwards I have to write about it. My aim is to be able to explain advances in research to people who are not scientists. I marvel at the complexity of living things and the knowledge, self-sacrifice and perseverance that researchers bring to medical research, and therefore to the health of us all, is admirable.