The Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) at Academia Sinica, Taiwan, is a premier research institute focused on molecular biology and biotechnology research, with significant contributions to neurodegenerative disease research. The institute represents Taiwan's flagship research institution for molecular neuroscience and drug discovery.
| Detail |
Value |
| Headquarters |
Taipei, Taiwan |
| Parent Organization |
Academia Sinica |
| Focus |
Molecular biology, biotechnology, neurodegenerative diseases |
| Founded |
1983 |
| Director |
Dr. James C. K. Chen |
The institute conducts fundamental research on:
- Protein aggregation mechanisms: Understanding how misfolded proteins like alpha-synuclein and tau form toxic aggregates
- Neuronal death pathways: Apoptosis, necroptosis, and other cell death mechanisms in neurodegeneration
- Cellular stress responses: Unfolded protein response, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction
¶ Gene Discovery and Validation
- Genetic epidemiology: Identifying genetic risk factors in Parkinson's disease in Asian populations
- Functional genomics: Characterizing the role of risk genes using cellular and animal models
- Target validation: Moving from gene discovery to therapeutic target identification
- High-throughput screening: Identifying neuroprotective compounds
- Natural product screening: Taiwan's biodiversity as a source of novel compounds
- Repurposing screens: Finding new uses for existing drugs
The institute's PD research programs encompass multiple therapeutic targets:
- Understanding aggregation mechanisms and toxicology
- Post-translational modifications (phosphorylation, ubiquitination)
- Spreading mechanisms and prion-like propagation
- Clearance pathways (autophagy, proteasome)
LRRK2 (Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2) is a major genetic contributor to familial PD. The institute studies:
- LRRK2 kinase activity and regulation
- LRRK2 mutations and their functional consequences
- LRRK2 inhibitor development
Research on energy metabolism defects in dopaminergic neurons:
- Complex I deficiency in PD
- PINK1/Parkin mitophagy pathway
- mtDNA mutations and copy number changes
- Metabolic reprogramming in neurodegeneration
- Glial cell contributions to PD progression
- Microglial activation states
- Cytokine and chemokine signaling
- Peripheral immune system interactions
| Program |
Focus Area |
Status |
| Alpha-synuclein project |
Protein aggregation |
Active research |
| LRRK2 signaling |
Signal transduction |
Active research |
| Mitochondrial biology |
Energy metabolism |
Active research |
| Neuroinflammation |
Glial biology |
Active research |
| Drug discovery |
Compound screening |
Pipeline development |
¶ Key Researchers and Groups
- Dr. Hsiu-Ming Shih — Neurobiology and cell biology
- Dr. Ren-Huang Wang — Parkinson's disease genetics
- Dr. Ming-Fa Hsieh — Drug discovery and natural products
IMBD maintains extensive research collaborations:
- National Taiwan University — Medical school and research partnerships
- Taipei Medical University — Clinical research and translational work
- Chang Gung University — Neuroscience research
- International collaborations — With NIH, MRC, and other global institutions
The institute provides shared research resources:
- Genomics Core — Next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics
- Proteomics Core — Mass spectrometry and protein analysis
- Cell Imaging Core — Confocal and live-cell imaging
- Animal Facility — Transgenic and knockout mouse models