The CEMIPAI is a high security experimental platform designed for the handling of class 3 pathogens (viruses, bacterias). The platform is located in the building of the Institut de Recherche en Infectiologie (IRIM) in the CNRS campus of Montpellier and concentrates unique equipments and staff researchers in the largest class L3 confinement laboratory in France (360m²).  
 
The CEMIPAI provides its expertise and state-of-the-art equipment in order to carry out experiments addressing the interactions between bacterias, viruses and cells in vitro. Users have access to fully equipped sets (microbiological safety stations, agitators-incubators, microscopy, ultracentrifuges, freezers, cell culture equipment, cytometer …). The BSL3 platform also disposes of unique facilities for automated drug screening and high resolution imaging of cells, bacterias or viruses: super-resolution PALM/TIRF photonic microscopy, Confocal Microscopy (Spinning Disk), Electron Microscopy and high-speed Atomic Force Microscopy coupled with fluorescence microscopy. Partnerships with BSL3 animal facilities form a full R&D pre-clinical value chain from drug screening to pre-clinical phases.

Equipment for biochemical analyzes and a class 2 laboratory at in the immediate vicinity of part L3 complete the device.

The staff ensures the training of the users to work in confined environment L3.