The Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch has published its new research report. In the 284-page book, 54 research groups at the MDC give an overview of their work in 2008 and 2009. Research at the MDC focuses on cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, cancer, and neurosciences. However, as MDC Director, Professor Walter Rosenthal clearly pointed out in his introduction: "Research at MDC is not limited to individual organs or diseases. Molecular research almost always transcends disciplinary barriers. This state-of-affairs has become particularly clear through the new research approaches such as systems biology, a discipline that investigates biological processes in a holistic context in cells, tissues, and whole organisms".
Prof. Rosenthal pointed out that science is presently experiencing a rapid development of new technologies and methods. For instance, new high-throughput methods can produce amazing amounts of data in very short time periods that were not even conceivable 10 years ago. "These methods not only open up hitherto fore unimagined possibilities; but also bring with them new and unexpected challenges."
At the same time, Professor Rosenthal also emphasized that the molecular medical research of the MDC was to have as its final focus on projects involving normal human volunteers and patients. For that reason, the MDC and the Charité will continued their joint cooperative effort in terms of the Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC). The ECRC has an own section within the report. Furthermore, numerous MDC research groups have direct cooperative interactions with the ECRC.
The research report contains overviews of the MDC's main research areas in German and English. The reports of the individual research groups, which are primarily for intended for interested scientists, are in English.
The MDC was founded on the Berlin-Buch Campus in 1992. It is a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers and receives its basic operational funding of approximately 61 million euros a year in a fixed ratio of 90 percent from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and 10 percent from the province of Berlin. In addition, extramural grants acquired by the researchers total more than 20 million euros a year.
At present, 1380 people work at the MDC including about 1120 scientists. Of these scientists, 420 are guest researchers. The MDC cooperates closely with the Charité, the Leibniz Institute for Molecular Pharmacology (FMP), and the biotechnology park on Campus Berlin-Buch with its 47 companies and 740 employees. Altogether, more than 2200 people work on the Berlin-Buch campus.
To receive this new research report, please request a copy from the MDC Press Office.