MIEDZYNARODOWY INSTYTUT BIOLOGII MOLEKULARNEJ I KOMORKOWEJ W WARSZAWIE

Their core work

The International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw (IIMCB) is a leading Polish research institute specializing in structural biology, RNA biology, and drug discovery. They solve protein structures using crystallography, cryo-EM, and NMR to understand disease mechanisms and identify drug targets. Their work spans from fundamental molecular research — particularly in epitranscriptomics and RNA modifications — to applied pharmaceutical screening, including rapid drug repurposing efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also serve as a Central-Eastern European hub for building interdisciplinary research capacity in molecular medicine.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

IIMCB's early H2020 involvement (2018) centered on institutional capacity building and broad molecular signaling research, anchored by the MOSaIC Centre of Excellence. By 2020, their focus sharpened dramatically toward applied structural biology and drug discovery — driven partly by the COVID-19 pandemic response (EXSCALATE4CoV) and partly by expanding into RNA-level disease mechanisms (ROPES). The shift signals a maturing institute moving from foundational capability development to targeted translational and therapeutic research.

IIMCB is moving toward applied drug discovery and RNA-based disease research, making them an increasingly relevant partner for pharmaceutical and biotech collaborations.

How they like to work

IIMCB primarily joins consortia as a specialist participant (3 of 4 projects), contributing structural biology and screening expertise to larger teams. Their one coordinated project — MOSaIC, by far their largest grant at EUR 2.5M — was a Widening Participation action to build their own research excellence, suggesting they are still growing their coordination capacity. With 53 unique partners across 16 countries, they maintain a broad European network rather than relying on a small circle of repeat collaborators.

IIMCB has collaborated with 53 distinct partners across 16 countries, indicating strong pan-European connectivity for an institute of their size. Their network spans both research infrastructure consortia and health-focused drug discovery teams.

What sets them apart

IIMCB sits at a rare intersection: they combine deep structural biology infrastructure (crystallography, cryo-EM, NMR) with emerging RNA biology expertise and hands-on drug screening capability — all within a single Central-Eastern European institute. Their MOSaIC Centre of Excellence investment means they now have upgraded facilities and interdisciplinary teams that punch above the typical weight of a Polish research center. For consortium builders, they offer strong technical capabilities at competitive cost, with proven experience in both large infrastructure networks and fast-response pandemic research.

Highlights from their portfolio

• MOSaIC
  Their flagship as coordinator (EUR 2.5M) — a Widening Participation Centre of Excellence that transformed IIMCB's institutional research capacity in molecular medicine.
• EXSCALATE4CoV
  COVID-19 rapid-response drug repurposing project combining exascale computing with biochemical screening — demonstrates their ability to mobilize for urgent applied research.
• ROPES
  Signals IIMCB's strategic expansion into epitranscriptomics and RNA modifications as disease drivers — a fast-growing research frontier with therapeutic potential.