  The LHCb experiment offers the unique opportunity to study heavy-ion
interactions in the forward region (2 <eta< 5), in a kinematic domain
complementary to the other 3 large experiments at the LHC. The detector has
excellent capabilities for reconstructing quarkonia and open charm states,
including baryons, down to zero $p_T$. It can separate the prompt and displaced
charm components. In $p$Pb collisions, both forward and backward rapidities are
covered thanks to the possibility of beam reversal. Results include
measurements of the nuclear modification factor and forward-backward ratio for
charmonium, open charm and bottomonium states. These quantities are sensitive
probes for nuclear effects in heavy flavour production. Perspectives are given
with the large accumulated luminosity during the 2016 $p$Pb run at the LHC. In
2015, LHCb participated successfully for the first time in the PbPb
data-taking. The status of the forward prompt J/$\psi$ nuclear modification
factor measurement in lead-lead collisions is discussed.
