ICGEB Home About ICGEB Director-General Aministration and External Relations Board of Governors Council of Scientific Advisers Member States Trieste Research New Delhi Research Fellowships ICGEB Research Grants Meetings and Conferences Publications and Patents Biotechnology Transfer Affiliated Centres Meetings and Courses in ICGEB Member States Press Releases and Related Links What's New?               [Last update: 14/08/07]	What is it? What does it do? The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology conducts innovative research in life sciences for the benefit of developing countries. It strengthens the research capability of its Members through training and funding programmes and advisory services and represents a comprehensive approach to promoting biotechnology internationally. The Centre is dedicated to advanced research and training in molecular biology and biotechnology and holds out the prospect of advancing knowledge and applying the latest techniques in the fields of: biomedicine; crop improvement; environmental protection/remediation; biopharmaceuticals and biopestidice production. ICGEB provides a scientific and educational environment of the highest standard. It brings biotechnology to developing countries by strengthening their research capabilities, developing state-of-the-art research and training scientists to the benefit of its Member States. Located in Trieste, Italy, New Delhi, India and Cape Town, South Africa, the Centre forms an interactive network with Affiliated Centres in ICGEB Member States. Facts and Figures The ICGEB premises cover an area of 7,000 sq.m. in Trieste and 10,000 sq. m. in New Delhi. These are state-of-the-art purpose built laboratories fully equipped with the most technologically advanced scientific instrumentation. Composition The Board of Governors, made up of representatives from each Member State, the Council of Scientific Advisers, composed of eminent scientists who oversee the scientific excellence of the Centre, and the Secretariat which is constituted by the Director-General, Prof. Franciso E. Baralle, the Directors of the two Components, Prof. Mauro Giacca - Director ICGEB Trieste, and Prof. Virander S. Chauhan - Director ICGEB New Delhi and by the Director Administration and External Relations, Mr. Decio Ripandelli. At present more than 300 people from 28 different countries are working in the ICGEB laboratories as research scientists, postdoctoral fellows, PhD students, research technicians and administrative personnel. Since 1999 all Member States participate in the financing of ICGEB through a scale of assessment adopted by the Board of Governors at its third session. The Financial Regulations (in PDF) of the Centre are available for consultation. History The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology was launched in 1983, through the signing of its Statutes (the international treaty sanctioning its existence, deposited with the Secretary General of the United Nations) by 26 countries during a Plenipotentiary Meeting, held in Madrid. The representatives of the Signatory Countries met in Vienna in 1984 and decided that ICGEB would be structured with two Components, one located in Trieste, Italy (which will also be the Headquarters of the Centre), and one in New Delhi, India as well as a network of Affiliated Centres. Pending the entry into force of the Statutes, ICGEB started to operate in 1987 as a special programme of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The implementation of the programme was made possible through funds provided by the Host Governments of Italy and India. The Statutes of the Centre entered into force on 3 February 1994 and, in accordance with Article 1, the ICGEB became an autonomous, intergovernmental organisation. As at May 2006, ICGEB has 55 full Member States, a further 19 countries are still pending ratification of, or accession to, the Statutes of ICGEB. ICGEB is part of the United Nations System.	Developing Knowledge Research and Development Focus at ICGEB Research at ICGEB Trieste Scientific activity focuses on several advanced projects in current biomedical research. The research programmes include basic science projects such as control of gene expression, DNA replication, DNA repair and RNA processing; studies on human viruses such as HIV, HPV and rotavirus, moleuclar immunology, moleuclar genetics, experimental hematology (at the ICGEB Outstation in Monterotondo, Rome) and human gene therapy. Other Groups focus on projects in the fields of bacteriology and yeast genetics, protein structure and bioinformatics. The ICGEB Outstation in Ca' Tron (Treviso) addresses experimental issues in the field of plant virology and bacteriology. Research at ICGEB New Delhi The two main research areas at ICGEB New Delhi focus on mammalian and plant biology. Biomedical projects are pursued in virology (hepatitis B an E viruses, human immunodeficiency virus and SARS virus), immunology (biology of the immune resonse and tuberculosis), structural biology (development of synthetic antibiotics, crystal structure determination of proteins and polypeptides) and in the field of malaria both in basic research and vaccine and drug development. In the plant biology area, research projects address the study of insect resistance and biopesticidals abiotic and biotic plant stresses and crop imporvement through biotransformation. Core Facilities available at ICGEB Scientists at both ICGEB Components have access to state of the art facilities in advanced optical microscopy, proteomics, flow cytometry, viral vector production, high-level biocontainment laboratories and greenhouses. In Trieste and New Delhi intense activity is carried out in the biotecnology field for the development of technologies aimed at the production of recombinant therapeutics and diagnostics. Relationship with the Industrial Sector Policy guidelines on the use of ICGEB-owned intellectual property rights and know-how are in place with a view to fostering innovative approaches for industrial relations at a global level and enhancing joint ventures and other partner-oriented approaches for the commercialisation of the results of research in biotechnology. 69 agreements and collaborations with industrial partners for training, transfer of technologies and patent licensing have been concluded in the past seven years. Institutional Activities ICGEB plays an important role in biosafety-related issues and in the environmentally sustainable use of biotechnology. The Centre provides an on-line, biobliographic database on Biosafety, a search mechanism on risk assessment for the release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This activity has now been expanded with the new Biosafety Outstation at Ca' Tron. The Centre is active in enhancing the safe and peaceful use of biotechnology and is promoting the adoption of ethical codes for researchers working in life sciences. In addition, technical advice is provided to Member States on request for the formulation of national bioscience policy; definition of research goals; development of national bioindustries, and the establishment of national biotechnology laboratories. Cooperation with other International Agencies is promoted to harmonise and speed up projects of common interest. Some of the Organisations with which ICGEB maintains close contact and collaboration are: Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physic ICTP (Trieste) Elettra synchrotron (Trieste) European Commission EC European Molecular Biology Laboratory EMBL Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FAO International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA International Centre for Science and High Technology ICS (Trieste) International School for Advanced Studies SISSA (Trieste) Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (Trieste) United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNIDO United Nations Environment Programme UNEP United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO World Health Organization WHO