our mission
The new institute has been created in an exciting period of biomedical science: the first four eukaryotic genomes have been sequenced, including the human genome. This flood of sequence information provides unique possibilities for understanding cellular function. Within this context, the new institute focuses on the following questions: How do cells organize themselves, what is the machinery responsible for cellular organization and how does the machinery change to generate the specialised cell types of multicellular organisms, and how do the various cell types assemble to form tissues? To answer these questions, the new institute merges molecular cell biology with developmental biology. This challenge will be met by a combination of experimental strategies which include novel genetic, morphological and biophysical approaches.

the building - communication through architecture.

Efficient communication can have a solvent effect, weakening the old hierarchical structures and encouraging development and establishment of modern and effective scientific institutions. Rapidly advancing modern science demands flexibility and provision for novelty and charge. The idea was to provide a building on the highest level in technical and practical terms in laboratory design that also promotes synergy, cooperation and community. Thus, the institute’s building has been carefully designed to force scientists to come together, to create the critical mass necessary for new discoveries. The world-class Finnish architects, Mikko Heikkinen and Markku Komonen, were selected as principal architects together with the German architectural firm of HENN.

organizational structure of the Instiute.

At MPI-CBG, the research groups of the five directors are complemented by 19 independent research groups and about 16 scientific services or facilities. The directors, research group leaders and service leaders together make up the faculty of MPI-CBG.
Thus, the structure of the institute is kept at a minimum of hierarchy. Continuity is provided by the directors, while the turnover of most other scientific staff gives the necessary flexibility to constantly bring new expertise and ideas to the institute.