In order to develop new technologies and analysis tools towards a biophysical understanding of development at the level of cell communication and force generation, the Max Planck Society founded a center for systems biology in Dresden. This new center is a shared extension of the MPI-CBG and the Max Planck Instiute for the Physics of Complex Systems (MPI-PKS), and a collaboration with the Dresden University of Technology.
Gene Myers is the founding director of the new center. The Saxon Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Art (SMWK) has supported and continues to support the built-up of this new institute - 26 million Euros are budgeted and awaiting approval by the parliament. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports the new center with two grants totalling 10 million Euros. Bärbel Brumme-Bothe, head of the life sciences division in the BMBF, brought a huge cheque to Dresden symbolising the latest payment.
The MPI-CBG had a little get-together to say thank-you to everybody who helped to make this dream come true. Gene Myers introduced the research focus of the new center. Dr. Henry Hasenpflug, state secretary of the SMWK, emphasized that the new center was an important asset to the life sciences campus in Dresden.