Curious about what goes on behind these walls? The Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire or IGBMC is a biomedical research institute. It stands as one of Europe’s pioneering centers in its field.
Founded in 1994, the IGBMC emerged through the vision of Pierre Chambon. It quickly gained international recognition as a leading French research hub. The IGBMC operates as a joint research unit. It involves the University of Strasbourg, Inserm, and the CNRS. Specifically, it is the CNRS’s UMR 7104 laboratory and Inserm’s Unit U 964. The IGBMC also houses the CERBM. This is the European Biological and Medical Research Center. It is an economic interest group associated with the CNRS, INSERM and the University of Strasbourg. Each holds a one-third stake.
Here at the IGBMC, over 45 nationalities converge. Researchers collaborate internationally through programs like NIH and HFSP. Over 120 French and international speakers visit each year. The institute produces more than 220 publications annually.
Research at the IGBMC spans four departments. These include developmental biology, functional genomics and translational medicine. They also encompass integrative structural biology. Six technology platforms and eight scientific services support this work. The institute employs a diverse group. There are 120 researchers, 130 post-doctoral fellows, 130 doctoral students and 300 engineers. There are also technicians and administrative staff. The IGBMC benefits from its proximity to the Mouse Clinical Institute. The ICS focuses on creating and studying genetically modified mice.
The IGBMC’s research explores the genome of higher eukaryotes. It studies gene expression and protein structure-function relationships. These studies are crucial for understanding diseases. These include cancers and metabolic disorders.
Notably, the IGBMC invented ultrasensitive microscopy. This advancement came from the structural biology department. The institute also has high-throughput platforms for genomics. These platforms are available to external laboratories. The IGBMC provides training for students and scientists.
Many leaders have shaped the IGBMC. Pierre Chambon directed the institute from 1994 to 2002. Later directors include Jean-Louis Mandel, Dino Moras, and Olivier Pourquié. Brigitte Kieffer also led the IGBMC. Bertrand Séraphin and Yann Hérault co-directed the institute from 2014 to 2019. Since 2020, Frédéric Dardel has been at the helm.
The IGBMC stands as a beacon of biomedical research. It fosters international collaboration and groundbreaking discoveries. Its impact resonates worldwide.