Scientists at IMBA are passionate about discovery and advancing our understanding of biology. They are recognized leaders in their fields, regularly publishing in the top research journals. Contributions from IMBA research groups are of interest to everyone – including scientists, clinicians, and the public. The Research Highlights below summarize some of the most significant discoveries made by IMBA scientists.


20.12.2019

Two grants on imaging projects go to IMBA

Researchers from IMBA – Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences – are granted funding for two projects from the Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF), amounting to 700.000 Euro per project.

Group leader Daniel Gerlich will coordinate a grant to study the mechanics of mitotic chromosomes, together with collaborators from the Max Perutz Labs in Vienna.

In eukaryotic cells, genetic information is stored on chromosomes. During mitosis, chromosomes must condense to form mechanical bodies that can be transported to each daughter cell. Unraveling how molecular interactions within chromosomes contribute to the material properties and mechanical integrity of mitotic chromosomes will be the main focus of Daniel Gerlich’s WWTF project. The interdisciplinary research team will employ cutting-edge microscopy techniques that probe chromosomes at different length scales, including light- and electron microscopy, as well as atomic force microscopy.

Anton Goloborodko, who joined IMBA as a group leader recently in 2019, will contribute his expertise to a second WWTF-funded project as associated PI.
He established the first purely theoretical lab at IMBA and will carry out computational analyses based on the resulting data from the project carried out with the neighboring IMP.

According to the WWTF, the decision was based on a seven-person international jury. Out of 55 submitted projects, the jury selected six projects, which are granted funding for four years.
 

About IMBA
IMBA - Institute of Molecular Biotechnology - is one of the leading biomedical research institutes in Europe focusing on cutting-edge stem cell technologies, functional genomics, and RNA biology. IMBA is located at the Vienna BioCenter, the vibrant cluster of universities, research institutes and biotech companies in Austria. IMBA is a subsidiary of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the leading national sponsor of non-university academic research. The stem cell and organoid research at IMBA is being funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and the City of Vienna.