{"id":656,"date":"2022-04-06T15:24:06","date_gmt":"2022-04-06T15:24:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/?page_id=656"},"modified":"2022-06-09T10:44:22","modified_gmt":"2022-06-09T10:44:22","slug":"embracing-the-change","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/ar2021\/embracing-the-change","title":{"rendered":"Foreword"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n  <style>\n    .vf-hero {\n              --vf-hero--bg-image: url('https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/20220524_AR2021_banners-scaled.jpg');\n            }\n\n  <\/style>\n<section id=\"\" class=\"vf-hero | vf-u-fullbleed  | vf-u-margin__bottom--0\">\n  <div class=\"vf-hero__content | vf-box | vf-stack vf-stack--400\">\n        <h1 class=\"vf-hero__heading\">\n              Annual Report 2021          <\/h1>\n\n        <p class=\"vf-hero__subheading\">A year of exceptional life science research, training, service, industry collaboration, and integration of European life science research.<\/p>\n    \n    \n      <\/div>\n<\/section>\n<!--\/vf-hero-->\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vf-grid | vf-grid__col-3\"><div class=\"vf-grid__col--span-2\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<p>FOREWORD<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Embracing the change<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>2021: a year of trailblazing in every one of EMBL\u2019s missions<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"vf-figure wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" class=\"vf-figure__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/EH_080322_13-m.jpg\" alt=\"woman dressed in black stands at glass railing\" class=\"wp-image-603\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/EH_080322_13-m.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/EH_080322_13-m-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/EH_080322_13-m-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"vf-figure__caption\">Edith Heard, EMBL Director General. Credit: Kinga Lubowiecka\/EMBL<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve all heard the saying that \u2018change is the only constant in life\u2019, and one might even add a corollary that the success of an organism \u2013 or of an organisation \u2013 can be measured in the way it responds to that change. During a worldwide pandemic that provided a multitude of changes with accompanying limitations, EMBL not only rose to challenges, but also transformed them into new opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When I reflect on the year, I am struck by the trailblazing nature of our staff who supported each other and have been part of many impressive initiatives, within EMBL and in collaboration with scientists in academia and industry in our member states. It is because of their unrivalled enthusiasm that we have continued to successfully carry out EMBL\u2019s five missions in research, service, training, innovation and translation, and integrating European life sciences.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I am also grateful to our member states who, through the EMBL Council, supported us in its historic endorsement and approval of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/programme\/\">EMBL\u2019s new Programme \u2018Molecules to Ecosystems\u2019 2022-2026<\/a> and associated financial plan. This Programme, starting in 2022, will launch EMBL into a new era and set the scene for European molecular biology to reach new heights and provide greater impact in the next five years.<\/p>\n\n\n<hr class=\"vf-divider\">\n\n\n<p class=\"vf-u-text-color--green vf-text--body vf-text-body--1\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><em>&#8230;<meta charset=\"utf-8\">you will quickly see why our member states showed an impressive commitment to EMBL\u2019s future and the important role we play in advancing science.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<hr class=\"vf-divider\">\n\n\n<p>This new era includes a change in how the EMBL Annual Report is published, with this edition becoming our first digital report \u2013 part of our commitment to sustainable operations. As an online publication, the report includes hyperlinks to our various scientific and organisational achievements of the year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One highlight is the launch of the AlphaFold Protein Structure Database by the artificial intelligence company DeepMind, which was made openly available by scientists at EMBL-EBI. By the end of 2021, this database contained more than 800,000 protein structures, and it will continue to open up completely new avenues of scientific discovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alongside this, EMBL\u2019s new, state-of-the-art <a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/imaging-centre\/\">Imaging Centre<\/a> welcomed its first external users in 2021. The first class of fellows to EMBL\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/arise\/\">ARISE Programme<\/a> also arrived \u2013 kickstarting EMBL\u2019s innovative infrastructure leadership training program.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I am also proud to report that EMBL has committed itself to<a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/equality-diversity\/\"> creating a more inclusive workplace founded in equality and diversity<\/a>, as well as a strategy for establishing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/documents\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/sustainability-strategy-embl-2021.pdf\">environmentally responsible operational and research practices<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are just a few examples of EMBL\u2019s highlights in 2021. As you browse the Annual Report, I think you will quickly see why our member states showed an impressive commitment to EMBL\u2019s future and the important role we play in advancing science. It\u2019s a reflection of the EMBL community that gives me great pride as well as immense hope for a world made better through their commitment to embrace the change and remain perpetually curious.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<style>\n    <\/style>\n\n<section id=\"wp-block-1\">\n  <div class=\"vf-card-container  | vf-u-fullbleed  \n  | vf-u-background-color-ui--grey--light \">\n          <div class=\"vf-section-header | vf-u-margin__bottom--600\">\n        <h2 class=\"vf-section-header__heading\" >\n            <\/h2>\n              <\/div>\n      \n\n<div class=\"embl-grid\"><div class=\"\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/\">Back to Annual report<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<article class=\"vf-card vf-card--brand vf-card--bordered vf-u-margin__bottom--800\" default>\n  <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/211013_typas_antibiotics-gut-microbiome_wordpress.jpeg\" class=\"vf-card__image\" alt=\"Illustration of a community of bacteria. Pills represent an antibiotic that can be used to treat an infection, and a second drug that could protect many gut bacteria from antibiotics.\" loading=\"lazy\" itemprop=\"image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/211013_typas_antibiotics-gut-microbiome_wordpress.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/211013_typas_antibiotics-gut-microbiome_wordpress-300x180.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/211013_typas_antibiotics-gut-microbiome_wordpress-768x461.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\n  <div class=\"vf-card__content | vf-stack vf-stack--400\">\n          <h3 class=\"vf-card__heading\">\n                  <a class=\"vf-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/ar2021\/more-than-a-gut-feeling\" target=\"\">\n        \n        Next Story\n                  <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"vf-card__heading__icon | vf-icon vf-icon-arrow--inline-end\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n            <path d=\"M0 12c0 6.627 5.373 12 12 12s12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0C5.376.008.008 5.376 0 12zm13.707-5.209l4.5 4.5a1 1 0 010 1.414l-4.5 4.5a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414l2.366-2.367a.25.25 0 00-.177-.424H6a1 1 0 010-2h8.482a.25.25 0 00.177-.427l-2.366-2.368a1 1 0 011.414-1.414z\" fill=\"currentColor\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"><\/path>\n          <\/svg>\n        <\/a>\n              <\/h3>\n    \n          <p class=\"vf-card__subheading\">More than a \u2018gut feeling\u2019<\/p>\n    \n          <p class=\"vf-card__text\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">From establishing new collaborations to developing innovative new approaches, EMBL researchers made great strides in their exploration of the human gut microbiome in 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<article class=\"vf-card vf-card--brand vf-card--bordered vf-u-margin__bottom--800\" default>\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AR2021_PDF_mock-up_AdobeStock_182004081.jpg\" class=\"vf-card__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" itemprop=\"image\">\n  \n  <div class=\"vf-card__content | vf-stack vf-stack--400\">\n          <h3 class=\"vf-card__heading\">\n                  <a class=\"vf-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/documents\/document\/annual-report-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n        \n        Download the annual report summary \n                  <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"vf-card__heading__icon | vf-icon vf-icon-arrow--inline-end\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n            <path d=\"M0 12c0 6.627 5.373 12 12 12s12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0C5.376.008.008 5.376 0 12zm13.707-5.209l4.5 4.5a1 1 0 010 1.414l-4.5 4.5a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414l2.366-2.367a.25.25 0 00-.177-.424H6a1 1 0 010-2h8.482a.25.25 0 00.177-.427l-2.366-2.368a1 1 0 011.414-1.414z\" fill=\"currentColor\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"><\/path>\n          <\/svg>\n        <\/a>\n              <\/h3>\n    \n    \n          <p class=\"vf-card__text\">A snapshot of EMBL 2021 facts and figures<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n        <\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":38,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"vf_template_subpage.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"embl_taxonomy":[],"class_list":["post-656","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"embl_taxonomy_terms":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=656"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/656\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3754,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/656\/revisions\/3754"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"embl_taxonomy","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/embl_taxonomy?post=656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}