An agreement for the creation of an international associated laboratory between National Center for Biological Science (NCBS), the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the University of Aix Marseille was signed at NCBS, Bangalore.

The agreement was signed by Dr Catherine Jessus, director of the National Institute of Biological Sciences of CNRS, and Dr Satyajit Mayor, director of NCBS.

In addition, the Consul General of France, Mr Eric Lavertu, was present for the signature of the agreement for the creation of an international associated laboratory.

An international associated laboratory is a 'laboratory without wal'.

It brings together a French laboratory, the Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille, and an Indian laboratory, the laboratory of Satyajit Mayor at NCBS, pooling together human and material resources in order to implement a jointly-defined research program.

This international associated laboratory represents an opportunity for students and researchers to work in a scientific environment of international excellence and inter-disciplinarity.

The international associated laboratory is coordinated by two coordinators, one French and one Indian, who jointly assume scientific responsibility.

The coordinators are: Dr Thomas Lecuit, Institut de Biologie du Développement, CNRS / University of Aix Marseille - Dr Satyajit Mayor, National Center of Biological Sciences, Bangalore.

This new international associated laboratory aims at understanding the biochemical and physical basis of epithelial tissue organization and dynamics.

The complementary expertise of the French and Indian partners will allow quantitative study of these dynamic processes at different scales (molecular, supramolecular, cellular and tissue).

The international associated laboratory is called as 'Systems Biology of Tissue Mechanics' (SysTiM).