In May 2021, the Clinatec Endowment Fund recruited the internationally renowned Australian researcher John Mitrofanis, specialist in neurodegenerative diseases and infrared light, who had already been working with Clinatec since 2011. Since his arrival, he has set up three major research projects as part of the Covea Neurotec programme, which is supported by the French mutual insurance group Covea. The programme has several objectives: the study of the neuroprotective effect of infrared to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, the study of photobiomodulation and its beneficial action on brain activity and the search for biophotons with the aim of characterising them and linking them to possible pathologies. The project team has been consolidated by the recruitment of three researchers : Audrey Valverde (Sept. 2021), Marjorie Dole (Jan. 2022) and Jaimie Hoh Kam (Apr. 2022).

John Mitrofanis is also in charge of launching a new project, SomniBrain, on the use of infrared light to improve sleep in patients with neurodegenerative diseases. This project is conducted in collaboration with Brigitte Piallat of the GIN Lab / UGA.

Concerning the effect of neuro-illumination applied to Parkinson's disease, a clinical trial began in March 2021 ; a first patient was implanted with a medical device resulting from the CEA's work. In parallel, the work is being extended to Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Finally, we should also note the recruitment of Swiss Professor Pierre Magistretti, world expert on glial cells, who has also joined the Clinatec Endowment Fund as an international advisor with the aim of making international relations a lever for the development of an integrated structure like Clinatec.