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About IMCAS
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Dr. Gao, G.F.
Professor and Director |
The Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS)
was founded on December 3, 1958. It was the merger of Beijing Laboratory
of Microbiology, CAS, and the Institute of Applied Mycology, CAS.
IMCAS is a national comprehensive research institution that performs
a wide spectrum of basic and applied research on microbial resources,
microbial ecology, fermentation, microbial enzymology, molecular virology,
and molecular microbial genetics. Based on its main research focuses
and developmental strategy, the Institute of Microbiology has established
nine research centers, which carry out studies on microbial resources,
microbial genomics, agricultural biotechnology, Bio-energy and industrial
biotechnology, environmental biotechnology, extremophiles, microbial
metabolic engineering, molecular virology, and molecular immunology,
respectively. Three key laboratories (State Key Laboratory of Microbial
Resources, State Key Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, and CAS Key
Laboratory of Systematic Mycology and Lichenology) are embedded in
the research centers. The National Microbial Engineering Center has
already under construction according to the institute¨s master plan.
IMCAS hosts 307 faculty and staffs, including 5 CAS academicians,
94 professors and associate professors, and 8 postdoctoral research
fellows. Additionally, the institute harbors three supporting centers
and two platforms, i.e. the culture collection center, the microbial
analytical and inspection center, the center for technology and information,
the technical supporting platform, and the high-throughput screening
platform. The culture collection center harbors the largest fungal
herbarium in Asia with over 400,000 specimens, and the biggest culture
collection in China, with 17,000 isolates of microorganisms. This
center is the entitled one of international preservative bases by
the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) according to the
Budapest Treaty.
Three national academic societies, Chinese Society of Microbiology,
the Mycological Society of China, and Chinese Society of Biotechnology,
are affiliated to the institute. The institute is also the seat of
editorial offices for four journals, Acta Microbiologica Sinica, Chinese
Journal of Biotechnology, Microbiology, and Mycosystema. The Institute
also has a specialized library with a collection of more than 60,000
books.
As the national leading research institution in the field of microbiology,
the IMCAS is committed to the advancement of science and technology.
In the past decades, a number of hallmarks have made the institute
notably known in China and through the world. The licensing of a novel
two-step fermentation technology for Vitamin C production to Hoffman
La Roche Company with a license fee of $5.5 million was the largest
biotechnology export item in the 1980s. The identification of an HSP96
binding epitope of Hepatitis B Virus from liver tumor tissues has
provided new clues to the treatment of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis,
and hepatoma. The introduction of glucomylase to industries has resulted
in an economic benefit of RMB 190 million, reducing grain consumption
by 80 million tons. The IMCAS has finished the full-genome sequencing
of two microorganisms, Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis (2.7MB) and
Xanthomonas camperstris pv . campestris (5.1MB). The institute was
the first in the world that successfully applied satellite RNA of
cucumber mosaic virus in controlling plant viral diseases. The Institute
has made important contributions to the development of life sciences
and to the national economy. In August 2001, the IMCAS entered the
CAS's Knowledge Innovation Program and started a new era of rapid
development.
In 2004, the institute obtained financial support for 55 research
projects, among which 16 were sponsored by the National Natural Science
Foundation, 8 by the ｀973 Program¨, 8 by the ｀863 Program¨, 4 by National
Science and Technology Advancement Program, 10 by the Ministry of
Science and Technology, 4 by CAS, and the others by such sources as
the Hundred Talent Program, the CAS Presidential Funding, and so on.
The total research funds were more than 60,000,000 RMB. Funds resulted
from technology development and transfer were over 5,000,000 RMB,
which reflected the steadily improved scientific performance of the
institute. Up to 91 papers were published on journals that included
by the Science Citation Index in 2004. A number of 19 techniques were
filed for patent in China and one for international patent. This year
also witnessed a double number of granted patents, among which 29
patents were authorized by the State Intellectual Property Office
of China. The patent titled "Hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigenic
polypeptide-heat shock protein complex and use thereof" has been
applied for PCT and published/opened in USA, Japan and Europe.
The IMCAS is also dedicated to educating and training new generation
of microbiologists. The institute offers a broad range of academic
programs that lead to postgraduate degrees, such as microbiology,
biochemistry and molecular microbiology, and microbial genetics. Currently,
there are 256 graduate students enrolled in various programs toward
doctoral (166) and master's degrees (90).
The institute is committed to serving national and international
needs. This commitment is reflected in research and practical activities
located off campus in communities throughout China. It is realized
also through worldwide research cooperation, training ex-changes,
and student exchange programs. A network of international collaborations
that involves scientists from the US , Singapore , United Kingdom
, France and other European countries has established. The international
orientation of the institute is an indispensable precondition for
its scientific excellence and competitiveness
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