The 2026 Science Festival provided an opportunity for the AP-HP's Clinical Research and Innovation Directorate (DRCI) to host a week of activities dedicated to discovering health research. These events aimed to share knowledge, raise awareness of research professions, and foster public engagement.
October 2, 2026, marked the first AP-HP Research Day, held across the institution's hospitals. The goal was to showcase the diversity of research conducted, highlight teams, and encourage exchanges between professionals, patients, patient associations, and partners. Various meetings, round tables, workshops, and research facility tours were offered, illustrating approaches in care research, participatory research, innovation, and health entrepreneurship. This day also aimed to better inform about the professions essential to research, such as clinical research associates, biostatisticians, and engineers.
On October 5, 2026, a webinar titled "Nutri-Score: The Scientific Behind-the-Scenes of an Everyday Tool" took place. Moderated by Prof. Chantal Julia, this session explained the scientific work, data, and evaluations that led to the creation and evolution of this nutritional labeling tool. The webinar attracted over 240 participants and discussed the Nutri-Score's influence on food offerings and its role in public health choices.
The PRIMO Mission, held on October 8, 2026, at the elementary school of Hôpital Saint-Louis, allowed CM1-CM2 students to step into the shoes of young researchers. Guided by a team, they participated in five workshops to understand the stages of drug research and development, from symptom observation to clinical trial verification.
The Research and Innovation Village, held on October 9, 2026, in the hall of Hôpital Saint-Louis, concluded the week. This interactive event, featuring 10 stands, offered the public hands-on experiments, games, and demonstrations to explore health research and related professions. A CE1-CE2 class also participated in fun activities. The event underscored the importance of scientific mediation in making research accessible and fostering dialogue.
