In 2025, the Gregor Mendel Institute (GMI) celebrates a key moment in its history: 25 years of pioneering research in plant molecular biology. On May 5, the institute’s researchers, alumni, collaborators and friends filled the ÖAW’s grand Festsaal for a festive evening event, featuring a keynote lecture by Nobel laureate Jennifer A. Doudna and the world premiere of Erbsenrondo, a string quartet commissioned for the GMI’s jubilee. On May 23, a scientific symposium at the GMI brought together researchers, alumni, and former group leaders for a day of scientific talks and connections.
The power of basic research
In her keynote on May 5, titled Genome Editing the Future: Transforming Human and Planet Health with CRISPR, Doudna recounted the discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 system, the now-famous tool to precisely cut and modify DNA. Emphasizing the power and necessity of curiosity-driven basic research, Doudna pointed out that she and her colleague Emmanuelle Charpentier, who conducted some of her seminal work in Vienna, had initially set out to understand how bacteria defend themselves against viruses – a discovery from which the powerful tool developed.
By now, the famous “gene scissors” have taken the world by storm. From the first CRISPR therapy for sickle cell disease, approved by the FDA in 2023, to potential applications in cancer treatment, climate change mitigation, and sustainable agriculture, Doudna highlighted the sweeping potential of genome editing for improving human and planetary health.
But Doudna also urged caution and called for public dialogue. “Using CRISPR comes with risks that we must acknowledge and deal with through dialogue, regulation and collaboration. We cannot and do not want to put the genie back in the bottle.”
CRISPR and the future of humanity
In a meeting with Austrian journalists before the lecture, Liam Dolan, Deputy Scientific Director of the GMI, emphasized how fundamental genetic engineering is to the future of humanity in the context of plant research. “It is plants that turn sunlight into organic material, providing us with the energy that we need to survive and function”.
Doudna shared that she recognized early on which potential CRISPR held for genetically engineering plants. “We all need to breathe and eat, and plants are the basis of life on this planet, so it’s important to understand them”, said the molecular biologist, who also enjoys the world of plants while gardening. CRISPR technology can be used to produce drought-resistant rice varieties or tomatoes with higher nutritional value. “Everyone on this planet will benefit from this technology,” Doudna is convinced.
What will the future hold for CRISPR technology? “Quite a lot,” Doudna is certain. She sees great opportunities in combining artificial intelligence (AI) and CRISPR. AI could accelerate experiments, generate hypotheses, and discover new CRISPR proteins. But there is one thing AI will never replace: “Human curiosity as a prerequisite for basic research and new discoveries.”
Music and milestones
As Heinz Faßmann, President of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, noted in his opening remarks, the event was not just a celebration of the GMI’s past, but a call to envision its future: one where curiosity, fundamental research, and responsible innovation shape a better world.
The GMI’s Scientific Director, Magnus Nordborg, reflected on the importance of basic research in a changing world, and Markus Kiess, the GMI’s Administrative Director, called to mind that the institute’s success is due to the many people who have and are working on ensuring excellence in science – from the backing by the ÖAW and the Federal Ministry of Science, to the vision founding director Dieter Schweizer, and the commitment and dedication of the GMI’s researchers and staff.
The evening also featured the premiere of Erbsenrondo – A Musical Portrait of the GMI, performed by the Edelweiß-Quartett. Composed by Cheryl Frances-Hoad, the piece for string quartet offered a unique reflection on the institute’s legacy and spirit of discovery – even spelling out Gregor Mendel’s name in musical notes, and musically illustrating key research areas of the GMI.
A Symposium and Evening Reception
On May 23, the GMI’s anniversary celebrations continued with a scientific symposium at the Vienna BioCenter. To mark 25 years of excellent plant science, the GMI invited 12 alumni back to the campus to present their current research and how it relates to their scientific roots at the GMI.
The breadth and depth of plant science presented was spectacular, from unexpected features of mitotic division, parental conflict and genomic imprinting in barley to harnessing plant science for a sustainable future. Julia Bailey-Serres, Director of the Center for Plant Cell Biology at UC Riverside, joined the GMI community with her keynote lecture on (Re)shaping roots and symbiotic interactions in wet and dry soils.
Fred Berger, Senior Group Leader at the GMI, presented his artwork designed specifically for the GMI’s anniversary. Titled “Mendel’s nightmare”, the ink painting on mulberry paper is inspired by Gregor Mendel’s work and portrays the symbolic path of genetic inheritance in a population of diploid plants.
The celebrations culminated in an evening party, with the GMI community toasting the past, present and future of the institute – and, fittingly, sharing a birthday cake.