Medical Centre for Molecular Biology (MCMB) was inaugarated in February 1992, at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ljubljana (UL). It was established by a consortium of institutes of the Faculty of Medicine and some clinical institutions in Ljubljana (see MCMB Founders), in order to coordinate research and teaching activities in the field of medical molecular biology/genetics among institutes of the Medical Faculty, clinics of the Clinical Centre Ljubljana, and the Insitute of Oncology in Ljubljana. It was (and is still) open to all members for training young researchers either by their integration into the currently running projects of the Centre or by establishing joint research projects that are of partner institutions’ interest. After training in most of the cases researchers return to their home institution, starting its own molecular biology laboratory but maintaining research links with MCMB. At present, main research interest of the Centre is investigation on molecular basis of complex multifactorial pathologies such as cancer and psychiatric disorders. The Centre is located, as its part, at the Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, at Vrazov trg 2 in Ljubljana (see the map).
The core research group of the Centre is one of the research groups of the Institute of Biochemistry of the Faculty of Medicine UL, named “Medical Centre for Moleclar Biology” (0381-030: Medicinski center za molekularno biologijo) which, together with the group “Biosynthesis and Biotransformation” (0104-011: Laboratorij za biosintezo in biotransformacije) from the National Institute of Chemistry, in the period 2004-2014 constituted joint research program Functional Genomics and Biotechnology for Health (P1-0104: Funkcijska genomika in biotehnologija za zdravje). From 2015 this research program (P1-0390) is located uniquely at the Faculty of Medicine. In this context and as principal initiator, the Centre is closely associated with the Centre for Functional Genomics and Bio-Chips (CFGBC: Center za funkcijsko genomiko in bio-čipe) operating at the national scale. In addition, in the period 2004-2008/9 MCMB also coordinated CoE Biotechnology with Pharmacy, virtual ESFRD centre of excellence joining together 20 partners – laboratories from academic institutions, research institutes, clinics, S&M enterprises, and Slovenian pharmaceutical industry.
Current technical expertise
- mutation analysis
- SNP and GWAS analysis
- global gene expression analysis (transcriptomics)
- proteomics
- nanobody technology, search for biological markers
- biomarker validation (western, q-PCR, in vitro on cell lines)
- drug delivery systems (archeosomes, exosomes)
- molecular cell biology
- gene cloning and expression
Current research topics
- glioblastoma and GBM stem cell biomarkers
- targeting cancer with nanobodies
- SNP variants of mitotic segregation genes in cancer
- suicidal behaviour – molecular genetic and epigenetic backround
- dementia – study of epigenetic modifications
- cytoskeleton related diseases and tissue regeneration
- mesenchymal stem cells and new therapy approaches
- pleiotropic effects of erythropoietin
- molecular genetics of familial erythrocytosis
Mailing address
Medical Centre for Molecular Biology
Faculty of Medicine
University of Ljubljana
Vrazov trg 2
SI-1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia
Phone: +386-1-543-7646
Fax: +386-1-543-7641
Head of the centre: Prof. Radovan Komel, PhD
Phone: +386-1-543-7662
Fax: +386-1-543-7641
E-mail: radovan.komel@mf.uni-lj.si