The Institute of Biological
Research and Biotechnology
The Institute of Biological Research and Biotechnology (IBRB) was established in 1977. The mission of the Institute is the acquirement of new knowledge in biological research and its socio-economic valorization, through biotechnological applications, the education of new researchers, the substantiated scientific documentation and information about the progress in biological research of the public and specific target groups (politicians, public and private organizations, press etc.)
New director of the Institute was appointed in April 2005, Professor Fragiskos Kolisis, Laboratory of Biotechnology of the School of Chemical Engineering of the National University of Technology of Athens (NTUA).
To fulfil its mission IBRB is planning to focus its activities into two main research directions:
1. The Systems Biology approach, as a novel tool in the development of Biological Research. Progress in Systems Biology, is crucial for a molecular understanding of many diseases and for development of novel biotechnological applications. The feedback between this iterative modelling and testing which is a key feature of Systems biology, to the study of diseases with a multi-factorial aetiology such as cancer and diabetes, will transform dramatically biology and medicine in the 21st century, radically modifying therapeutic practices and developing new ones (predictive, preventive and personalized medicine).
The IBRB has a long-standing experience in the study of several biological systems as molecular cancer biology (colon, lung and breast cancer), carcinogenesis, aging. These systems are going to be used in the frame of a pilot plan as case studies for the development of a holistic approach with the utility of metabolic engineering and bioinformatics research tools. A first attempt will be towards the selection of one or two systems where the research activities will be focused. The information collected as well as the models designed will be integrated together to obtain a view of how the systems under investigation work.
This holistic perspective where information from different biological layers (DNA, RNA, protein, protein interactions, biomodules, cells, tissues, etc.) as well as the functional characteristics of these individual elements (e.g. specific genes or proteins) and the relationships of these with respect to one another is defined as System Biology.
2. Industrial Biotechnology. Emphasis will be given to the following topics, which are of greek industry - economic interest,
Food biotechnology,
Biocatalysis/biotransformation for the production of biomaterials, biological active molecules and fine chemicals, and
Biofuels
This activity will be based on the traditional research work carried out in the institute in food biotechnology as well as in biomimetic systems. This experience will be combined with the activities of the new director of the Institute who is a Professor of Biotechnology in the School of Chemical Engineering of NTUA with research interest in biocatalysis in non-conventional media, towards the creation of a big research group able to perform high level work not only to the direction of pioneering research in the field of applied biocatalysis but also for supporting the traditional as well as the innovative industrial activities at the National as well as at the European level.
These two directions will be interconnected and supported by the new research team of ''Metabolic Engineering-Bioinformatics'', which is going to be established in the Institute.
IBRB researchers have close collaborative links with dozens of research groups in Greece and abroad, as well as with the NHRF Institutes of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry (IOPC) and Theoretical and Physical Chemistry (ITPC). Furthermore, in collaboration with many Departments of Greek and foreign Universities, IBRB is supervising a large number of Ph.D. theses of science students (biologists, chemists, pharmacists, chemical engineers) and doctors (leading to Dr.med.). Finally, the Institute is also involved in the organization in the organization of the Spetsai Summer Schools, in many EMBO-FEBS Workshops and many scientific meetings and round-table discussions.
The research funding at IBRB, coming almost exclusively from competitive grants National and European, is estimated to 1 100 000 euro, annual rate for 2004.
The research teams of IBRB are grouped into the following research programs overlapping both in aims and methodology:
In addition to conducting basic research, IBRB researchers are also active in applied research in the context of a large number of Greek regional development projects and collaborations with industry and other users, as well as through their support of the three applications Units operated, namely :
In addition to the above mentioned main activities which constitute the two pillars of the Institute, the policy for supporting its mission will include: Investment in potential future scientists as well as Public information for the progress of Biology and Biotechnology. Organization of educational visits for high schools, open days, seminars to the public, specific publications, seminars and specific workshops for the bodies of School Teachers of biology, for the Professional National Organizations of Biologists, Chemists, Engineers etc.
In 2005 IBRB was declared a Center of Excellence for Biological Research and Biotechnology, within the framework of the evaluation of all Greek Research Centers, attaining a leading position among the National Research Institutes. The evaluation was conducted by an international scientific committee under the auspices of the General Secretariat for Research and Technology.
Biocatalysis/biotransformation for the production of biomaterials, biological active molecules and fine chemicals, and 
Biofuels
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