INSTYTUT GENETYKI I BIOTECHNOLOGII ZWIERZAT POLSKIEJ AKADEMII NAUK

Their core work

IGBZ PAN is Poland's leading research institute for animal genetics and biotechnology, operating under the Polish Academy of Sciences. They study how genetic and epigenetic mechanisms influence livestock traits — from embryo development and DNA methylation patterns to the genomic basis of meat quality in pigs and poultry. Their work bridges fundamental molecular biology with practical applications in animal breeding, reproduction technologies, and food quality assurance across European livestock production chains.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their H2020 journey began with a strong focus on reproductive biology — coordinating ERAofART (2016-2018), which examined epigenetic risks in assisted reproduction and DNA methylation in embryos. From 2019 onward, they shifted decisively toward applied livestock genomics and food production quality, joining BovReg (bovine functional genomics) and mEATquality (linking farming practices to pork and poultry quality). The trajectory shows a clear move from fundamental molecular mechanisms toward production-relevant genomics with direct industry applications.

Moving from lab-focused epigenetics toward applied livestock genomics and food quality — increasingly relevant for agri-food companies seeking genetic tools to improve animal production.

How they like to work

IGBZ PAN operates comfortably in both leadership and supporting roles — they coordinated one project (ERAofART) and joined two others as a specialist partner. With 38 unique consortium partners across 14 countries from just 3 projects, they clearly engage in large, multi-national consortia rather than small bilateral collaborations. This broad network suggests they are well-connected in the European animal science community and comfortable working within complex, distributed research teams.

Despite only three H2020 projects, IGBZ PAN has built a notably wide network of 38 unique partners across 14 countries, indicating active participation in large European consortia within the animal genetics and agri-food research community.

What sets them apart

IGBZ PAN brings a rare combination of deep animal genetics expertise with practical livestock breeding knowledge — they can connect molecular-level findings (epigenetics, functional genomics) to real-world outcomes in meat production and animal reproduction. As a Polish Academy of Sciences institute, they offer strong scientific credibility with lower cost structures than Western European counterparts. Their demonstrated ability to coordinate EU projects makes them a reliable partner for consortia needing Eastern European animal genetics expertise.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ERAofART
  Their only coordinated project and largest single grant (EUR 471,685), investigating epigenetic risks of assisted reproduction — a niche topic with implications for both livestock breeding and human fertility science.
• mEATquality
  Their most recent and longest-running project (2021-2026), directly connecting farming practices to consumer-relevant meat quality — their most industry-applicable work to date.
• BovReg
  Large-scale cattle functional genomics initiative that positions them at the intersection of bioinformatics and animal breeding — a field with growing commercial demand.