Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG)

We do pioneering basic research. 500 curiosity-driven scientists from over 50 countries ask: How do cells form tissues? Our research programs span multiple scales of magnitude, from molecular assemblies to organelles, cells, tissues, organs, and organisms.

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Cell Biology

The MPI-CBG was founded with the goal of bridging scales and bringing together cell and developmental biology. For this reason, we focused heavily on studying cell biological phenomena utilizing different model systems. We can only understand how cells form tissues, our fundamental question, through a deep knowledge of cell biology.
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Physics of Life

In order to understand the organization of life into molecules, cells, and tissues the MPI-CBG, as part of a collaboration, is bringing physics and biology together to solve biological questions. This interdisciplinary effort merges fundamental physics, theory, and experiment together to truly explore how cells form tissues, the basic research question of the institute.
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Stem Cells and Organoids

Stem cells and organoids, as a model system, allows us to push forward our research into how cells form tissues. Studying tissues using organoids and the reconstitution of complex biochemical systems allow the creation of a framework of cell and tissue organization. With organoids, human tissue biology has become accessible for study in a way that was not possible before.
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Latest News

Bruno Vellutini wins the 14th Annual Nikon Small World in Motion Competition

Video of mitotic waves in the embryo of a fruit fly of Dresden MPI-CBG researcher is the 2024 winner of photomicrography competition.

8th edition of the Banquet “Dresden is(s)t bunt”

MPI-CBG participates in festival for diversity and tolerance

Humboldt Research Fellowship for Ian Seim

Studying short-lived condensates in the cell cortex, a fine network of filaments below the cell membrane.

Understanding the smallest elevators in the world

Dresden researchers discover new function of overlooked structural element in the membrane transport protein family.

GSCN 2024 Young Investigator Award for Claudia Gerri

The 2024 Awards of the German Stem Cell Network recognize outstanding stem cell researchers.

How Cells Use Condensation to Seal Tissues Tight

Dresden researchers discover proteins that form tissue barriers to protect the body from unwanted substances

Building a bridge between mathematics and biology

New research group leader aims to reveal mathematics of complex systems arising from nature.

A New Mechanism for Shaping Animal Tissues

Dresden researchers discover a new mechanism for three-dimensional tissue shape changes in animals. 

New mathematical approach to study spatial genomic patterns in kidney data

Oxford and Dresden researchers develop a new method, TopACT, and reveal hidden patterns in lupus kidney disease.