About

EMBL is Europe’s leading life sciences laboratory

We train students and scientists to perform world-class biological research, and provide state-of-the-art technologies for a wide range of scientific and experimental services. More than 1700 scientists working at six laboratory sites throughout Europe are publishing over 800 publications per year, and running events and conferences at the cutting edge of biological research.

EMBL seeks to better understand the molecular basis of life. In the process, we’re changing European science.

EMBL was set up to promote molecular biology across Europe, and to create a centre of excellence for training Europe's leading young molecular biologists. To accomplish this, EMBL pursues five missions:

Perform fundamental research in molecular biology

EMBL has developed an integrative, interdisciplinary structure to study and understand biological phenomena in their full complexity.

Provide facilities and services for life scientists

Core facilities provide space and equipment for physical experiments, while digital services such as molecular databases serve millions of users each year.

Develop and share new technologies and methods

To push the boundaries of biological knowledge, EMBL scientists invent new tools and techniques, and engage in technology transfer.

Teach and train students and scientists

EMBL’s multifaceted training programme covers students at all levels from high-school to postdocs, as well as professional development for scientists.

Integrate European life-science research

EMBL works to establish links and initiate collaborative projects between scientists in Europe and the wider world.

Activities

Research card

Research

From genes to whole organisms, from chemistry to computational biology, EMBL's diverse research programme is pushing the limits of biological knowledge

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Services

EMBL’s core facilities provide physical experimental services for researchers, and EMBL-EBI maintains the world’s most comprehensive range of molecular data resources

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Conferences

Every year at its headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany, EMBL hosts dozens of international conferences on topics in molecular biology

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Courses

EMBL runs a range of practical and theory courses on various aspects of molecular biology, including statistics, software, and laboratory techniques

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Seminars

Talks by renowned scientists, engineers, and policy makers are a part of daily life across EMBL’s six European sites

Technology transfer card

Technology transfer

EMBL’s technology portfolio includes enabling technologies, scientific instruments, molecular tools and techniques, software, and databases

Sites

Barcelona location

Barcelona

EMBL’s site in Spain specialises in tissue biology and disease modelling

Grenoble location

Grenoble

Located on the EPN science campus, EMBL’s site in France is a centre for structural biology studies

Hamburg location

Hamburg

Research in structural biology benefits from the powerful accelerator facilities on Hamburg’s DESY campus

EMBL Heidelberg location

Heidelberg

EMBL’s administrative headquarters and host to five research units and scientific core facilities

EMBL Hinxton UK location

Hinxton

EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute uses its comprehensive data resources to enable discoveries worldwide

EMBL Rome location

Rome

EMBL’s site in Italy is a centre for research in epigenetics and neurobiology

General information

Governance

Committees

Innovation in the life sciences is rooted in fundamental research. Today’s technology and improved living conditions are the fruits of our past investments in science. By supporting EMBL research with your philanthropic contribution, you are enabling progress in its purest form.

Find out more about how you can support EMBL

Alumni

The EMBL Alumni Relations programme fosters connections between the laboratory, its member states, current EMBL staff, EMBL alumni and the public.

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