30 Years Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University

Over the past three decades, the Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH) has participated in the development of a safe hepatitis B vaccine, the discovery of molecular causes of Alzheimer’s Disease, the invention of a widely applied genetic switch, the revelation of the transport mechanisms in cells, and the deciphering of repair systems for damaged proteins, to cite just some of its outstanding work. At this major research institution, scientists from a variety of disciplines investigate fundamental processes of molecular and cellular biology that frequently also touch on medical aspects. With the foundation in the 1980s a concept for a new research centre with an innovative departmental structure promoting freedom and independence of young researchers as well as close networking of scientists was realized. A strategic alliance between the Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University and the “Cell and Tumour Biology” research programme of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) has been in place since December 2007. In 2015 the ZMBH celebrated its 30 years of existence.