Call for Nominations for the Renewal of the Committee of National Reference Centers (CNR)

Santé publique France has issued a call for nominations for the renewal of the Committee of National Reference Centers (CNR) for the Control of Communicable Diseases. The call for nominations closes on March 8, 2023.

More information about the National Reference Centers

To carry out its infectious disease surveillance activities, Santé publique France relies on a network of 43 National Reference Centers (Article L 1413-3 of the Public Health Code).

Learn more

In this article

Santé publique France, the National Public Health Agency, is issuing a call for applications for the renewal of the Committee of National Reference Centers (CNR) for the Control of Communicable Diseases, the body responsible for developing calls for proposals and evaluating projects, hereinafter referred to as the “CNR Committee” in accordance with Art. D. 1413-53 of Decree No. 2016-806 of June 16, 2016.

To carry out its missions, Santé publique France relies on a network of NRCs,1 whose designation procedures and main missions are established by Decrees No. 2016-806 of June 16, 2016, and No. 2022-1770 of December 30, 2022, supplemented by the orders of June 16, 2016, and March 2, 2022. These missions concern:

  • Expertise in the microbiology and pathology of infectious agents, and the development, optimization, validation, and dissemination of clinical laboratory tests; the identification and confirmation of pathogens, particularly those for which there is no in vitro diagnostic medical device meeting the conditions set forth in Articles L. 5221-2 or L. 5221-5 of the Public Health Code;

  • Scientific or technical advice in response to any request from the Minister of Health and Prevention, the National Public Health Agency, and healthcare professionals;

  • Contributing to epidemiological surveillance:

    • by coordinating a network of laboratories that may be entrusted with conducting tests and subsequently transmitting the results,

    • by conducting the analyses necessary for the surveillance of pathogens;

  • Immediate notification to the National Public Health Agency, the Ministry of Health and Prevention, and, where applicable, the Regional Health Agency of any finding likely to pose a risk or threat to the health of the population.”

A CNR Committee is established under the Director General of Santé publique France to support the agency’s work regarding the designation, coordination, and evaluation of CNRs.

The members of this Committee must be reappointed within eight months of the publication of the Order of December 30, 2022, establishing the list of National Reference Centers, National Reference Centers-Associated Laboratories, and National Reference Centers-Expert Laboratories for the control of communicable diseases.

Application Guidelines

Applications must be submitted no later than Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at 3:00 p.m., via email to the following address: dmi-cnr@santepubliquefrance.fr

Applications must include:

  • a cover letter including professional and personal contact information, an email address, and a cell phone number;

  • a resume;

  • a list of works/publications from the past 5 years;

  • a public declaration of interests to be completed on the DPI SANTE ministerial portal, accessible via the link https://dpi-declaration.sante.gouv.fr/dpi-webapp/app/candidature/index

The mission of the National Reference Centers Committee is:

  • to propose to the Director General of Santé publique France, for a five-year period and in light of the epidemiological situation, a list of pathogens requiring a National Reference Center (NRC);

  • to update the general terms of reference for the NRCs and to develop specific terms of reference for each NRC;

  • to review proposals and rank applications in response to a call for applications;

  • to evaluate the activities of the National Reference Centers annually and at the end of the five-year period.

Santé publique France relies on this committee to ensure the scientific quality and efficiency of the activities carried out by the NRCs within the scope of their missions and compliance with their specifications, to manage the network of laboratories thus created, and to coordinate their activities.

The CNR Committee consists of no more than twenty members. It includes:

  • representatives from the Ministry of Health (DGS – DGOS);

  • representatives from Santé publique France;

  • external experts in epidemiology, microbiology, infectious diseases, or public health, appointed for a five-year term by the Director General of Santé publique France following a call for applications.

At least half of its members belong neither to the Ministry of Health and Prevention nor to Santé publique France.

Members of the CNR Committee serve in their personal capacity and may not be replaced. This is a participation in their personal capacity and not institutional representation.

Under normal circumstances, the CNR Committee meets three times a year for one day (or, exceptionally, one and a half days), with an estimated workload for members of approximately 6 to 8 days per year.

Committee members are responsible for evaluating CNR applications or annual activity reports. These evaluations take into account scientific, technical, financial, and ethical aspects. They also help coordinate the CNR network, particularly when organizing seminars bringing together all the laboratories that make up the CNR network. They contribute to the Committee’s discussions on developments within the CNR network or regarding its missions.

A few additional meetings (in-person or via videoconference) may be organized on an ad hoc basis, particularly during the preparation and implementation of calls for applications for the renewal of CNRs (scheduled for 2026–2027 for the next call for applications).

To meet the established objectives, the CNR Committee must be composed of healthcare professionals (physicians, pharmacists) or scientists with expertise in the fields of microbiology, infectious diseases, epidemiology, or public health.

General Qualifications

  • interest and experience in the field of infectious disease surveillance, including research, development, and evaluation;

  • Interest and expertise in microbiological diagnostic techniques, including genomics and their evolution (sequencing, etc.);

  • Good knowledge of the French public health system;

  • Ability to work collaboratively and in a multidisciplinary setting.

Specific skills

  • microbiologists (bacteriology, virology, parasitology, mycology, phylogenetics, etc.) in human or animal health;

  • epidemiologists or public health specialists with strong expertise in infectious diseases; molecular epidemiology and genomics of infectious agents;

  • clinical infectious disease specialists.

Members of the CNR Committee are appointed for a term of five years.

Internal rules of procedure define how the Committee operates.

The Chair of this Committee is appointed from among its members by the Director General of Santé publique France. Members sign a “Confidentiality Agreement and Commitment to Regularly Attend Meetings.”

The Director General of Santé publique France provides the Committee with the resources necessary for its operation. The scientific and administrative secretariat is provided by the Infectious Diseases Directorate of Santé publique France.

The Committee may hear testimony from any individual whose knowledge and experience are deemed necessary for its mission, subject to the submission of a declaration of interests.

Confidentiality Obligation and Duty of Professional Discretion: Committee members are bound by professional secrecy and discretion regarding the content of committee discussions, the votes of each member, and, generally, any document or information to which they have become privy by virtue of their participation in the committee’s work.

Declaration of Interests: Committee members must submit a declaration of interests and agree to report any changes regarding their affiliations during their term of office and to update their declaration at least once a year, even if no changes have occurred. These declarations of interests are made public on the DPI SANTE ministry website.

Travel expenses (transportation, lodging, and meals) are reimbursed in accordance with the rules applicable to civilian government employees (general regulations and rules established by the Board of Directors of Santé publique France)

Compensation for loss of income in the case of self-employed individuals, as well as compensation for time spent attending meetings and for work performed, will be provided in accordance with the schedule established by the Board of Directors of Santé publique France.

Only complete applications will be considered.

Applications to the CNR Committee will be reviewed by an internal selection panel at Santé publique France, based on the information provided in the cover letter, the candidates’ alignment with the required skills, an analysis of their conflicts of interest, and the committee’s need for multidisciplinarity and diversity. Candidates will be notified of the outcome of their application review via email from the Committee’s secretariat.

Please note: Given the ethical principles applicable to Santé publique France, the receipt of personal compensation from industry entities within the scope of the committee’s missions and participation in scientific or strategic advisory activities for those same entities constitute a clear conflict of interest incompatible with appointment to the committee.

Declarations of interest will be reviewed by the Internal Ethics Committee of Santé publique France.

Members of the CNR Committee will be appointed by decision of the Director General of Santé publique France; the Committee’s composition will be published on the agency’s website, and the DPI declarations of CNR Committee members will be published on the DPI SANTE ministerial website.

CNR staff members may not apply for these positions.

The same applies to members of the Board of Directors, the Scientific Council, the Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee, the Steering and Dialogue Committee, and the expert committees of Santé publique France.

Exclusion criteria apply to candidates who have not been professionally active for more than three years, as such situations do not allow for the updating of their skills and knowledge in their field.

Personal data is processed under the responsibility of Santé publique France. The processing is based on the implementation of pre-contractual measures related to the applicant’s application to the committee.

  • For unsuccessful candidates: CVs and application materials will be deleted within three months following the conclusion of the selection process;

  • For candidates selected for the committee:

    • CVs and application files will be retained for up to one year after the end of the term of office in connection with your participation on the committee;

    • Certain financial documents (bank account information, proof of identity, etc.) that may be requested from you at a later date, as they are necessary for the reimbursement of your travel expenses and compensation, must, in accordance with the law, be retained for 5 years after the final payment.

The data will be processed by authorized personnel at Santé publique France, and its subcontractors will have access to this information only to the extent necessary for the performance of their duties.

Any applicant may exercise their rights to object, access, rectify, erase, and restrict the processing of personal data by contacting Santé publique France, Data Protection Officer, 12 rue du Val d’Osne, 94415 Saint Maurice Cedex or dpo@santepubliquefrance.fr (please mention the name of the relevant committee).
Any candidate may exercise their right of access, rectification, and restriction regarding other data by also contacting Santé publique France, Data Protection Officer, 12 rue du Val d’Osne, 94415 Saint Maurice Cedex or dpo@santepubliquefrance.fr (please mention the name of the relevant committee).

If a candidate believes that their rights regarding their data are not being respected, they may file a complaint with the National Commission on Informatics and Civil Liberties.

For more information on this data processing: dpo@santepubliquefrance.fr

The Missions of Santé publique France – The National Public Health Agency

The National Public Health Agency, established by Order No. 2016-462 of April 14, 2016, is a public administrative agency under the supervision of the Ministry of Health. Its missions are:

  • epidemiological observation and monitoring of the health status of the population;

  • monitoring health risks threatening the population;

  • health promotion and the reduction of health risks;

  • developing prevention and health education;

  • preparation for and response to health threats, alerts, and crises;

  • issuing health alerts.

Within its scope of authority and to carry out its missions, the agency applies expertise consistent with the principles set forth in Article L. 1452-1. Its opinions and recommendations are issued in accordance with the provisions of Article L. 1452-2.

Subject to respect for privacy and secrets protected by law, in particular the rules relating to the protection of national defense secrets, its opinions and recommendations are made public.

1- Order of December 30, 2022, establishing the list of national reference centers, national reference centers with associated laboratories, and national reference centers with expert laboratories for the control of communicable diseases – (amended by the Order of January 18, 2023)