Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP)
The Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) in Vienna pursues world-class research in basic molecular biology. Founded in 1985, it seeded the Vienna BioCenter. Today, the IMP’s 280 people from 40 countries are committed to the discovery of fundamental molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying complex biological phenomena. The IMP is largely sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim and international research grants.
Research at the IMP addresses important problems in molecular and cellular biology; gene regulation and development; as well as immunology and cancer.
Scientists at the IMP use the latest methods and equipment in molecular genetics, imaging, biochemistry, and structural biology in an array of model systems. State-of-the-art core facilities are available to all research groups free of charge.
The IMP performs innovative research at the highest level. This commitment to excellence results in 60 to 90 publications in international peer-reviewed journals per year and an impressive number of grants and awards: as of 2024, (total: 26 ERC grants 2007-2024); all seven senior group leaders are elected EMBO members; five Wittgenstein Awards were presented to IMP scientists.
Many outstanding scientists visit each year and give over 80 lectures and seminars at the IMP, evidence for the institute's international scope. The most renown seminar series are the "Max Birnstiel Lectures", which bear the name of the instite's founding director.
The IMP’s location at the Vienna BioCenter ensures that its community of scientists is firmly embedded in one of Europe’s most dynamic and stimulating academic environments. The working language of the IMP is English. It is a founding contributor to the VBC PhD Programme, and also supports related training activities such as the VBC Summer School.
In 2019, the IMP and the Max Birnstiel Foundation established the International Birnstiel Award for Doctoral Research in the Molecular Life Sciences, which is given annually to outstanding students or recent graduates. With over 100 nominations from an equal number of institutions brought forward each year, the Birnstiel Award has become one of the most competitive student research awards in molecular biology.
The IMP is situated in a modern building at Campus-Vienna-BioCenter 1. Dedicated professionals, excellent services, modern ambience, generous funding, and uncompromising commitment to curiosity-driven, basic research made a group leader once refer to the IMP as “science heaven”.
Further Reading
Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP)
