Santé publique France relies on a network of National Reference Centers (CNRs) to carry out its missions in the fight against communicable diseases. The procedures for designating these CNRs and their main missions are governed by Decree No. 2016-806 of June 16, 2016, concerning CNRs for the control of communicable diseases, as well as by the order of March 2, 2022, establishing their terms of reference. A CNR Committee reports to the Director General of Santé publique France to support the agency in the designation, coordination, and evaluation of the CNRs.

To meet the established objectives, the CNR Committee brings together professionals who are experts in the field of infectious diseases, familiar with the French public health system, and capable of working collaboratively and in a multidisciplinary manner.

While the profiles of CNR Committee members include microbiologists (bacteriology, virology, parasitology, mycology, and phylogenetics), epidemiologists or public health specialists, infectious disease specialists, pharmacists or clinical laboratory scientists, as well as veterinarians, this call for applications seeks to replace an expert member of the CNR Committee, preferably with a virologist, for the remainder of the current term, through April 25, 2028.

Committee Responsibilities

The CNR Committee’s mission is to propose to the Director General of Santé publique France, for a five-year period, a list of pathogens requiring a CNR, based on the epidemiological situation. It develops the specific terms of reference for each CNR, reviews proposals, and evaluates applications as part of the term renewal process. It also conducts annual evaluations of CNR activities, as well as at the end of each five-year term.
Santé publique France relies on this committee to ensure the scientific quality and efficiency of the CNRs’ activities, in accordance with their terms of reference, as well as to oversee the network of laboratories and coordinate their activities.