centre international de recherche en infectiologie centre international de recherche en infectiologie the centre international de recherche en infectiologie is an academic and research institute based in lyon, france. synopsis the ciri is composed of 22 teams gathered behind one goal: the fight against infectious diseases (which is the second cause of death worldwide) by "promoting in-depth conceptual and technological advances through approaches that span from fundamental to clinical/applied research." the key areas of expertise of the ciri teams are bacteriology, immunology and virology. the ciri contains a biosafety level 4 laboratory. history the ciri was created in 2013 by the inserm, the cnrs, the ens de lyon and the université claude bernard lyon 1 in partnership with the pasteur institute, the mérieux foundation, the vetagrosup and the hospices civils de lyon. a bsl-4 laboratory at the wuhan institute of virology received significant and substantial support of the conceptual, engineering and logistical varieties from the ciri. the wiv bsl-4 facility was commissioned in february 2015.