The Institute of Biophysics (IBF) of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) studies the molecular mechanisms of living systems, with a focus on the relationship between structure and function in biological molecules and cellular processes.
Our history
IBF was created in 2002, after the reorganisation of the CNR, from the merger of five CNR units working on the molecular mechanisms of living systems. The headquarters, originally established in Pisa, moved to Genoa in April 2003.
The institute follows a multidisciplinary approach:
The founding units
- Istituto di Cibernetica e BiofisicaGenoa
- Centro di Studi sulla Biologia Cellulare e Molecolare delle PianteMilan
- Istituto di BiofisicaPisa
- Istituto per le Applicazioni Interdisciplinari della FisicaPalermo · from which today’s Palermo branch derives
- Centro di Fisica degli Stati Aggregati – Biomolecules and Biological Membranes unitTrento
The Palermo branch
At Via Ugo La Malfa 153 it brings together researchers, technologists, technical and administrative staff, research fellows and PhD students. Heir to Palermo’s tradition of applying physics to biological systems, today it is mainly active in:
Collaborations
The branch collaborates with universities, research institutions, hospitals and companies in Italy and abroad, and takes part in national and European projects.
Training and outreach
It is committed to training, science outreach and technology transfer, with activities for schools and the public.
To learn more about the whole institute visit www.ibf.cnr.it.