The Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB)
Systems Biology integrates high-throughput technologies, mathematics, bioinformatics, molecular biology, biochemistry and engineering to derive predictive, quantitative models for biological systems, which may be molecules, cells, organisms or entire species. In combination with biomedical research, Systems Biology has the potential to steer medicine into the next century of personalized medicine.
In combination with the major disease oriented programs of the MDC, Medical Systems Biology is an essential strategic and overarching component of the scientific profile of the MDC: the Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB) was launched in 2008. The scientific concept was initiated by Nikolaus Rajewsky, who is now leading the program and its further developments.
Research at the BIMSB is focused on the understanding of gene regulatory networks, in particular transcriptional and post-transcriptional processes and their integration with major cellular regulatory mechanisms, such as protein-protein and protein-DNA/RNA interaction networks, signal transduction pathways, post-translational modifications, metabolic feedback, both, in health and disease states.
In addition to active national and international collaborations, BIMSB activities are strongly connected with the development of the life sciences in Berlin: together with the Humboldt-Universität and the Charité Berlin. BIMSB is also part of the Integrative Research Institute Life Sciences (IRI LS).
