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Scientific Report 2009-10

The Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB), which forms part of the CSIC (National Research Council) has traditionally been one of the most prominent centres in the area of biology in Spain and is unique in possessing a multi-disciplinary character incorporating researchers from the fields of biology, agricultural and chemical sciences, which facilitates the interaction between different scientific approaches. At present the centre hosts more than 50 research groups involved in research projects dealing with cellular biology and development, the structure and biological functional of proteins, replication and expression of genetic material, the molecular biology of animal and plant parasites and viruses, mechanisms of bacterial pathogenicity, the biology of the immune system and the antitumor response, molecular genetics of human pathologies, plant biology and plant protection, biofuel and environmental microbial biotechnology.

Since its creation in 1953 in its former premises in Velázquez Street up to the present time in its new location in Ramiro de Maeztu Street, the CIB has remained at the forefront of Spanish research in the area of biology and biomedicine and more recently in the field of biotechnology and the agricultural and environmental sciences. For decades this centre has been the driving force behind the creation of new top-level scientific centres and has continually played an active part in the technical and research training of young people who have chosen the CIB because of its tradition and innovating spirit that have made of the CIB a centre of reference both nationally and internationally.

At present the CIB is made up of approximately 600 people, ninety-five of whom are permanent staff researchers. About one hundred people are technicians and management personnel and the remainder are undergoing training. It is worthy of note that the CIB has always been distinguished by its teaching work in two different but complementary aspects: i) Scientists formed in the CIB integrate without difficulty in the laboratories of the best international institutions; and II) The CIB is chosen by promising scientists from all over the world to complete their training by virtue of being an active, dynamic centre in constant evolution and with researchers of great international prestige.

The scientific activity of the CIB consists of the following five programmes:
• Environmental biology: This program studies the relationship between plants and their surroundings at the basic and applied research levels, together with the applications of microorganisms and their enzymes to sustainable development.
• Cellular biology and development: Researchers integrating this program study the processes of cellular identity and epigenetic regulation, as well as chromosome dynamics.
• Chemical and physical biology: This program is concerned with the basic study of the structure and function of proteins and their interactions with other molecules.
• Cellular and molecular medicine: This program addresses the molecular bases of genetic diseases, as well as of widespread pathologies like hypertension and diabetes.
• Molecular microbiology and biology of infection: This program represents an strategic approach, which is unique in Spain, to study the basic aspects of the mechanisms of infection and the pathogenesis of microorganisms.

These research programmes have replaced the old arrangement of the CIB in departments in order to promote an operational strategy that better reflects the capacity of the research groups and facilitates the possibility of sharing common interests. This strategy, which counts on the solid support of all the CIB members, aims to encourage the generation of positive synergies to improve the quality and productivity of scientific research.

Research financing at CIB is obtained from different agencies, both international and national, by means of public calls as well as through contracts with private enterprises. The CIB also plays an important role in the transfer of knowledge, making the results of its scientific research available to society. This is achieved through the registration of patents, which reflect the discoveries made at CIB in matters such as the development of new therapeutic approaches, vaccines, biological testing or procedures with biotechnological or industrial applications, and by means of the development of companies based on scientific research and biotechnological innovation.

The CIB is equipped with highly specialized scientific services (animal facility, flow cytometry, gas chromatography, electronic and confocal microscopy, DNA and peptide sequencing, proteomics, nuclear magnetic resonance of biomolecules, peptide and oligonucleotide synthesis and analytical ultracentrifugation) that besides serving researchers of this centre and the CSIC are also available to other research centres (public or private) universities, and companies. It also counts on an excellent library, with one of the more important bibliographical collections in Europe in the area of cellular biology and biomedicine. Together with the above, research at the CIB is backed up by a network of supporting services that includes administration, management, cellular culture facility, sterilization, computer science and radiological protection along with the technical service and infrastructure unit. All of the above-mentioned services facilitate the work of the researchers enabling them to perform their work at the highest technical level.

Thus, the CIB is in a favoured position to meet present and future scientific challenges and will continue to be a reference centre both nationally and internationally.

Vicente Larraga Rodríguez de Vera.
June, 2009
 

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