The Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH) reestablishes its 9th Institute, the Institute of Biomedical Research, based in Ioannina, following a special amendment by the Ministry of Development and Investments and the adoption of a relevant law provision in Parliament on November 30, 2021.
Until 2012, the Institute of Ioannina, called IBE, was one of the 7, until then, Institutes of the Foundation. In the same year, the Institute of Biomedical Research was incorporated into the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of FORTH, as a Department of Biomedical Research, based in Ioannina. The recent vote to re-establish it as an independent Institute of FORTH, marks the recognition of the important work carried out by the research teams of the Institute of Biomedical Research and their scientific contribution in the field of Biomedical Research.
“It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome to the large family of the Foundation for Research and Technology- Hellas, its 9th Institute, the Institute of Biomedical Research.The re-establishment of the Institute of Biomedical Research reflects the high-level of research carried out at FORTH, as well as the extremely successful course and the international recognition of the research activities of the Members of the Institute. For FORTH, it is a great success, which seals, after many years of pursuit, the achievement of another, key strategic goal, which strengthens the foundation’s development path towards the future.
At the same time, it will bring significant benefits, in practice, for the society and the scientific ecosystem of the region of Epirus. I should mention, especially in relation to this point, that the Institute of Ioannina will be supported with 12.9 million euros, for the construction of a new building of 3,795 sq.m., by the large development program of FORTH, which is funded with 57 million euros by the Recovery Fund.”, stated the Chairman of the Board of Directors of FORTH, Professor Nektarios Tavernarakis.
The Institute of Biomedical Research currently has more than 140 members and consists of 18 research groups. The Institute’s research focuses on biomedical issues such as the biology of vessels, the organization of the nucleus, the biology of stem cells, cancer biology, neurobiology, and biomedical technology, as well as their applications, with particular emphasis on regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
In these scientific areas, more than 40 research projects are currently being implemented at the Institute of Biomedical Research, both national and European, while dozens of PhDs, postgraduate dissertations, dissertations and internships have been carried out at the Institute of Biomedical Research premises, in collaboration with the Departments of the University of Ioannina.
The Institute of Biomedical Research has, among other things, microscopy infrastructures that are distinguished in Greece. It should be noted that the Institute is housed in a building that has been granted by the University of Ioannina, while the construction of its new building on an area granted for this purpose by the University, within the University campus of Ioannina, is expected.
The new Institute is on the path of wide development, having high-level and trained human resources, as well as modern infrastructure. Its re-establishment, as the 9th Institute of FORTH, reinforces this course.