EMBL's 20th Member State Is Luxembourg

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 13 Nov 2007 - 5:00 PDT

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The European Molecular Biology Laboratory [EMBL] has announced that Luxembourg is the new member of its international community. Accepted by EMBL's council and ratified by the parliament of Luxembourg, the Grand-Duchy has officially joined the institute as the 20th member state.

"EMBL is a key player in European molecular biology," says François Biltgen, Minister of Culture, Higher Education and Research, Luxembourg, "being part of its international network will provide a boost for Luxembourg's research in the growing field of molecular biology and will integrate its researchers even better into the European scientific community. In return Luxembourg will contribute to EMBL's various activities bringing in complementary strengths and technical expertise."

Through its membership Luxembourg will contribute to EMBL's pursuit of its five missions: to perform basic research in molecular biology; to train scientists, students and visitors at all levels; to offer vital services to scientists in the member states; to develop new instruments and methods in the life sciences and to actively engage in technology transfer activities. As a member state Luxembourg will benefit from the various services and training programmes that EMBL offers for its member states and it will have access to the research facilities at the five EMBL stations in Heidelberg and Hamburg, Germany, Grenoble, France, Hinxton, UK, and Monterotondo, Italy.

The delegate representing Luxembourg in EMBL's council will be Josiane Entringer of the Department for Research and Innovation of the Ministry for Culture, Higher Education and Research.

Luxembourg's activities in the molecular life sciences range from basic research in genetics, molecular biology and biomedicine to more applied areas such as cancer research and the development of health technologies. Since the foundation of its University in 2003, Luxembourg has actively contributed to education and training of Europe's scientific elite.

"We are very pleased to welcome Luxembourg as our new member state," says Iain Mattaj, Director General of EMBL, "Luxembourg has substantially contributed to the progress of research in the life sciences in the past years. Its overlapping research interests and its complementary expertise make it a very valuable addition to EMBL."

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Source: Anna-Lynn Wegener
European Molecular Biology Laboratory

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