European Molecular Biology Laboratory

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL; German: European Molecular Biology Laboratory ) was founded in 1974 and is now supported by 20 European countries and Australia with associated member state. It is one of the most well-known biological research laboratories in the world.

EMBL is a basic research institute funded by public research monies of the Member States. About 85 independent research groups at EMBL covering the spectrum of molecular biology. The Laboratory has five units: the main Laboratory in Heidelberg, and outstations in Hinxton (the European Bioinformatics Institute ) in the UK, in France Grenoble, Hamburg, and Monterotondo, Italy.

The cornerstones of EMBL's mission are: basic molecular biology research; Furthermore, the high-quality education of scientists, students and visitors; Services to scientists in the member states; Development of new instruments and methods in the life sciences and active technology transfer. The international PhD program of the EMBL comprises approximately 170 students. In addition, the laboratory is engaged in an active program for science and society.

Research at EMBL is held at a high level, and this resulted in significant scientific breakthroughs such as the first systematic genetic analysis of embryonic development of the fruit for which the researcher Christiane Nüsslein- Volhard and Eric Wieschaus in 1995 received the Nobel Prize for Medicine.

Legal Status

EMBL is an international organization founded by nine European countries and Israel by the Convention of 10 May 1973. It enjoys in its activities in specified by the host State Convention limits immunity. For instance, there is no immunity for counterclaims and in civil proceedings for an injury resulting from the operation and in the operation of motor vehicles of the laboratory. The premises are also inviolable within certain limits. Furthermore, the laboratory of taxes, duties and taxes, with the exception of taxes and charges on services provided by public utilities and the taxes and duties on the personal needs of employees, free. More privileges exist in the area of message traffic and on receipt of currencies. Guests of the laboratory will facilitate the entry. The employees enjoy immunity for their official acts, although there are exceptions for activities in the road, and subject to entry and residence requirements, the staff of international organizations are granted in Germany and some smaller franchises. Similar rules also apply to representatives of the Member States. However, the exemptions for employees and representatives shall not apply to German (except for the immunity of the official acts ), and immunity may be lifted in a particular case. Salaries are exempt from income tax as long as the EMBL an internal tax imposed in favor of the laboratory; they are exempt from social security contributions, as long as the laboratory operates a well-respected by the Federal Republic as a reasonable social security system itself.

Word the same arrangements were made for the other countries with a seat of the EMBL.

Working groups

The groups at EMBL are divided into

  • Cell Biology and Biophysics
  • Developmental Biology
  • Genome Biology
  • Central Services (eg microscopy, monoclonal antibodies, protein purification, DNA sequencing )
  • Structural Biology and Bioinformatics
  • Further research activities

Directors

The Directors-General of EMBL since its founding in 1974:

  • Sir John Kendrew
  • Lennart Philipson
  • Fotis C. Kafatos
  • Iain Mattaj (since May 2005)
Fotis Kafatos
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