February 06, 2023

•    Partnership will encompass corporate philanthropy to support medical research and accelerate discoveries leading to innovative therapeutic solutions
•    Partnership will include sharing knowledge between BNP Paribas Cardif and Institut Imagine along with awareness initiatives 

BNP Paribas Cardif France today signed a philanthropy partnership with Institut Imagine (AP-HP, Inserm, Université Paris Cité), the leading European center for genetic disease research, care and education, based at the Necker-Enfants Malades children’s hospital. BNP Paribas Cardif becomes a “Benefactor” of Institut Imagine and will provide support for the institute’s Springboard program for the coming three years. Springboard is an accelerator for projects with significant potential of transfer to benefit patients, designed for the creation of startups working on genetic diseases. It aims to transform research results into innovations or diagnostic and therapeutic solutions.

The partners will share knowledge through meetings between teams from BNP Paribas Cardif and Institut Imagine (physicians, researchers, etc.) in order to discuss advances in research on genetic diseases, as well as the needs of families concerned. BNP Paribas Cardif will also pursue outreach initiatives among its staff, partners and policyholders to heighten awareness of genetic disorders and help reduce delays between the time initial symptoms are perceived and a precise diagnosis. These delays in diagnosis can reach several years, leading to treatments that are ill-adapted, as well as significant impact on the lives of the children and families concerned

Some 80% of rare diseases are genetic in origin1, making this a major public health challenge. Some three million people are affected by these disorders in France2. Joining the fight against genetic diseases is aligned with broader efforts by BNP Paribas Cardif to fulfill its mission to make insurance more accessible. The company has worked for more than a decade to facilitate access to insurance for vulnerable segments of the population. Hence, by taking into account medical advances regarding pathologies such as asthma, cardiac diseases, tetraplegia… The insurer is enabled to adjust both coverage offered and corresponding costs.  

The two key challenges in fighting genetic diseases are diagnosing the disorder as early as possible and proposing therapeutic approaches adapted to patients and their families to ensure optimal effectiveness. Institut Imagine is active in both areas thanks to its unique model, which brings together 1,000 doctors, researchers and caregivers, along with state-of-the-art technologies. The institute’s approach centers on the patients and their families with the over-arching goal of enabling a positive change in their lives. 

As an insurer, BNP Paribas Cardif has a responsibility to engage in society and particularly in medical research. The work of Institut Imagine is remarkable and we are proud to be able to contribute to their research while updating our product and service offerings to better cover populations affected by rare diseases", says Fabrice Bagne, BNP Paribas Cardif Deputy Chief Executive Officer, France and Luxembourg.

Because we are committed to providing treatments for patients as rapidly as possible, we created a unique accelerator resource called Springboard, which is designed to fund and develop projects in order to launch them as full-fledged startups. We are delighted that BNP Paribas Cardif is supporting this innovative approach that will create value and change the lives of families affected by genetic diseases, says Stanislas Lyonnet, Director of Institut Imagine.


1 Source: French Ministry of Health and Prevention

2 Source : French Ministry of Health and Prevention


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