|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
IMBA - Institute of Molecular Biotechnology
|
|
|
In the autumn of 1999 the Austrian Academy of Sciences has signed a cooperation contract with Boehringer Ingelheim group of companies, one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical corporations onwning the Vienna-based Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), for founding the "IMP-IMBA Genome Research Center".
It is the first time that an Austrian academic research institution was seeking close cooperation with the economy.
Within the cooperation framework the IMBA - Institute of Molecular Biotechnology has been established as a limited liability company under Austrian law and a 100-percent subsidiary of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
Dr. Josef Martin Penninger, an internationally renowned and successful researcher in the field of medical application of molecular genetics research, is the new director of IMBA.
In one- or two-years' time the institute will employ up to 100 staff members, who will closely cooperate with the adjoining Research Institute of Molecular Pathology.
On the basis of the largely decoded human genome, IMBA will investigate into functional genetical questions. Profiting from the research achievements of the IMP and extendeng them, IMBA will follow an independent and interdisciplinary approach.
New insights of common research projects of IMP and IMBA are taken as the basis for further research projects of Boehringer Ingelheim designed for the development of new medicine and therapies.
Questions of cancer research like the prevention of tumour through an appropriate programming of the immune system or problems of the regulation of bone formation and bone atrophy in order to steer and to avoid osteoporosis in time range among the topics of Penninger's research.
Apart from this, he has substantially contributed to the research of the origins of auto-immune diseases, to the treatment of infectious diseases and the understanding of the mechanisms of the conditioned cell death.
With the research cooperation the Austrian Academy of Sciences for the first time systematically approaches the transfer and availability of results of research for economic use.
By establishing IMBA as a limited liability company under Austrian law, the Austrian Academy of Sciences is exploring new perspectives of institutional organisation which could serve as a model in future.
IMBA is located at the Vienna Bio Center (institutes of the University of Vienna, IMP, start-up enterprises), which is intended to contribute to the reputation of the location of Vienna as a Center of Excellence for molecular biology.
Architectural Competition
In December of 1999 the invitation for tenders concerning the new building was announced in EU Member States and all architects working in the EU could apply for participation. 46 architect's offices, thereof two-thirds from Austria and one-third from abroad, have applied for participation.
In the second stage of the selection procedure (which was no longer an open competition), ten of the 46 applicants have been invited to take part in the competition.
The nine members of the jury made their choice within three evaluative steps.
In the course of last evaluation the project of Prof. Boris Podrecca was elected in unison as the winner.
Financed by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Culture and by the City of Vienna
The construction of the new building and the facility management of IMBA are made possible by grants of the City of Vienna and of the central government.
The City of Vienna is going to finance the purchase of the site extending to 2000 m2 and the construction costs of EUR 13,807,832 (ATS 190 million), while the central government will bear the annual costs amounting to EUR 7,267,280 (ATS 100 million).
Scientific Director: Dr. Josef Penninger
Chief Executive Officer: Dipl.-Ing. Dr. techn. Gerhard Schadler
 IMBA - Institute of Molecular Biotechnology
Architectural Design by Boris Podrecca (in German)
Virtual View of the Building
Information:
IMBA - Institute of Molecular Biotechnology
p. a.: 1010 Vienna, Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2
phone: (+43 1) 51581/1270
email: Gerhard.Schadler@oeaw.ac.at
|
|
|
|
