The Institute of Microbiology of CAS (IMCAS) – 中国科学院微生物研究所 is the largest microbiological research institution in China. It was founded in 1958. IMCAS focuses on three main areas of research: microbial resources, molecular microbiology, and microbial biotechnology. In 2001, the institute reorganized its research divisions into three centers: a research center for microbial resources, a research center for molecular microbiology, and a research center for microbial biotechnology. In 2004, the institute further refined its research focus to include microbial resources, industrial microbiology, and pathogenic microbiology, establishing nine research centers in these areas, including centers for extremophiles, energy and industrial biotechnology, microbial metabolic engineering, environmental biotechnology, agricultural biotechnology, molecular virology and immunology, and a joint research center for microbial genomics.
Since 2008, IMCAS has reorganized its research and development activities into an innovative value chain that includes a biological resource center, a scientific research system, and a technology transfer center. The institute conducts basic, strategic, and prospective research in microbial resources, biotechnology, pathogenic microbiology, and immunology, aiming to meet national needs in industrial upgrading, agriculture, human health, and environmental protection.
IMCAS operates five key laboratories:
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics (jointly established with the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, CAS)
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering
IMCAS also houses the largest fungal herbarium in Asia, with nearly 500,000 specimens, and the largest microbiological culture collection in China, with over 41,000 strains. The institute is equipped with a microbiological information center, a core facility, a Biosafety Level-3 laboratory, and other supporting platforms.
IMCAS employs more than 490 staff members, including 288 researchers and seven CAS academicians. It also has 467 graduate students.
More information: http://english.im.cas.cn.
