Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie

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VIB is a research institute located in Flanders, Belgium. It was founded by the Flemish government in 1995, and became a full-fledged institute on 1 January 1996. The main objective of VIB is to strengthen the excellence of Flemish life sciences research and to turn the results into new economic growth. VIB spends almost 80% of its budget on research activities, while almost 12% is spent on technology transfer activities and stimulating the creation of new businesses, in addition VIB spends approximately 2% on socio-economic activities.

The institute is led by Jo Bury and Johan Cardoen. Ajit Shetty is chairman of the board of directors.

Goals[]

VIB's mission is to conduct frontline biomolecular research in life sciences for the benefit of scientific progress and the benefit of society. The strategic goals of the VIB are:

1. Strategic basic research
2. Technology transfer policy to transfer the inventions to consumers and patients
3. Scientific information for the general public

Departments[]

The VIB scientist works on the normal and abnormal or pathological processes occurring in a cell, an organ and an organism (humans, plants, micro organisms). Instead of relocating scientists to a new campus, the VIB researchers work in research departments on six Flemish campuses: Ghent University, KU Leuven, University of Antwerp, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, IMEC and Hasselt University.

• Ghent University:
  • VIB Inflammation Research Center, UGent (Bart Lambrecht)
  • VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, UGent (Dirk Inzé)
  • VIB Medical Biotechnology Center, UGent (Nico Callewaert)
  • Institute of Plant Biotechnology Outreach (IPBO), UGent (Marc Van Montagu)
• KU Leuven:
  • VIB Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven (Scientific directors: Diether Lambrechts and Chris Marine)
  • VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, KU Leuven (Scientific directors: Patrik Verstreken and Joris de Wit)
  • VIB Center for Microbiology, KU Leuven (Scientific director: Kevin Verstrepen)
• IMEC Campus
  • NERF, a joint research initiative between IMEC, VIB and KU Leuven
• University of Antwerp:
  • VIB Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Antwerp (Rosa Rademakers)
  • VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, University of Antwerp
• Vrije Universiteit Brussel:
  • VIB Structural Biology Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Jan Steyaert)
  • VIB Laboratory Myeloid Cell Immunology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Jo Van Ginderachter)
  • VIB Nanobody Service Facility, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
• Hasselt University Campus
  • [http://www.vib.be/en/research/scientists/Pages/Markus-Kleinewietfeld-Lab.aspx VIB Laboratory of

Service facilities[]

VIB has established several core facilities focused on advanced technologies, which make high through-flow technologies available to academic and industrial researchers in Flanders.

• VIB BioInformatics Training and Service facility
• VIB Compound Screening service Facility, UGent
• VIB Genetic Service Facility, University of Antwerp
• VIB Nucleomics Core, KU Leuven
• VIB Nanobody Service Facility, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
• VIB Protein Service Facility, UGent
• VIB Proteomics Expertise Center, UGent
• VIB Bio Imaging Core, UGent and KU Leuven
• VIB Metabolomics Core, UGent

Spin-offs[]

VIB was involved in the creation of spin-offs from academic research groups, such as for Ablynx, DevGen, CropDesign, ActoGeniX, Pronota (formerly Peakadilly), Agrosavfe, Multiplicom, Q-biologicals, , Aphea.Bio and Aelin Therapeutics.

See also[]

Sources[]

• J. Comijn, P. Raeymaekers, A. Van Gysel, M. Veugelers, Today = Tomorrow : a tribute to life sciences research and innovation : 10 years of VIB, Snoeck, 2006, ISBN 978-90-5349-630-5
• Biotechnology industry in Belgium

External links[]

• Official website

Coordinates: 51°1′4.53″N 3°41′38.64″E / 51.0179250°N 3.6940667°E / 51.0179250; 3.6940667