Facts and figures
Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC)
Mission
The MDC is one of the world’s leading biomedical research centers. MDC scientists analyze how the human body works in both health and disease. But above all, their basic research discoveries aim to benefit patients as quickly as possible – whether that’s paving the way for better diagnostics and therapies or preventing healthy people from getting sick.
Year founded
1992
Namesake
Berlin-born Nobel laureate Max Delbrück (1906–1981), one of the founders of molecular biology
Locations
- Main location: 13125 Berlin-Buch, Robert-Rössle-Straße 10
- Second location: 10115 Berlin-Mitte (BIMSB), Hannoversche Straße 28
Organizational form
- Corporation under public law of the State of Berlin
- Legally independent member of the Helmholtz Association, Germany’s largest scientific organization
- Articles of association of the MDC, adopted at the meeting of the MDC Supervisory Board on January 26, 2021 (PDF)
- MDC organization chart
Leadership
- Scientific Director (interim): Prof. Dr. Thomas Sommer
- Administrative Director: Prof. Dr. Heike Graßmann
Employees
1,253 employees (current as of 2021)
- 833 working in scientific research
- 420 in administration
Percentage of women:
- Scientific research: 61.7%
- Administration: 60%
Percentage of foreign people working in science: 41.5%
Main research areas
The 88 labs at the MDC undertake research across four main areas and at the ECRC (see below):
- Genes, cells and cell-based therapies
- Molecular processes and therapies
- Integrative biomedicine
The MDC is also home to 15 technology platforms that develop scientific methods and technologies.
Translation – transfer of research findings into medical practice
The MDC has close partnerships with Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin within:
- the joint Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) (12 labs)
- the Berliner Institute of Health (BIH)
The MDC also cooperates with other university hospitals through the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK).
The MDC is a founding member of Berlin Research 50 (association of Berlin's non-university research institutions). Founding coordinator of the Life Sciences Section is Thomas Sommer
Scientific excellence
- 26 European Research Council grants (ERC-Grants) have been awarded to MDC scientists
- Ernst Jung Prize winner: 1 (press release)
- Leibniz Prize winners: 4
- EMBO members: 9
- Leopoldina members: 5
- Second place among non-university research institutions in the area of life sciences in the DFG Funding Atlas (2018)
Publications
567 scientific papers (current as of: 2019)
Funding
90% from the German federal government (Federal Ministry of Education and Research);
10% from the State of Berlin
Budget
- €94.2 million from core funding
- €36.2 million from third-party funding (incl. the BIH)
(current as of 2019)