EMBO stands for excellence in the life sciences. The EMBO mission is to enable the best science by supporting talented researchers, stimulating scientific exchange and advancing policies for a world-class European research environment.

EMBO is an organization of leading life scientist members that fosters new generations of researchers to produce world-class scientific results. Through the expertise and insight of these members, EMBO aims to help create a Europe where top-level life science research thrives. Since 1964, scientists have been elected annually as members of EMBO based on excellence in research. There are about 1500 EMBO members today, fifty-seven of whom have received the Nobel Prize

Nobel Prize

The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...

. Election to EMBO membership is recognition of the commitment to research excellence and outstanding achievements made by a life scientist. The annual nominations and elections ensure that the membership remains at the forefront of contemporary life science research. The members form a community of research excellence across Europe. EMBO is also founding member of the Initiative for Science in Europe

Initiative for Science in Europe

The Initiative for Science in Europe is an independent platform of European learned societies and scientific organisations. Itprovides a common forum for the scientific communities to advocate independent scientific advice in European policy making and to stimulate the involvement of European...

.

The current EMBO Director is Professor Maria Leptin, a developmental biologist at the University of Cologne

University of Cologne

The University of Cologne is one of the oldest universities in Europe and, with over 44,000 students, one of the largest universities in Germany. The university is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, an association of Germany's leading research universities...

, Germany.

Scientific exchange

EMBO stimulates scientific exchange. Courses, workshops, conferences and scientific journals disseminate the latest research and offer training in cutting-edge techniques to main high standards of excellence in research practice.

Biannual selection by a committee of EMBO Members ensures the consistent high quality and novelty of EMBO-funded courses, workshops, symposia and conference series. With over 80 meetings attracting more than 6,000 participants every year, EMBO offers the largest number of scientific training events in Europe.

EMBO publishes four peer-reviewed journals: The EMBO Journal

EMBO Journal

The EMBO Journal is a peer-reviewed scientific journal focusing on full-length papers describing original research of general interest in molecular biology and related areas. The journal's editorial office is in Heidelberg, Germany. The journal is published by Nature Publishing Group on behalf of...

, EMBO Reports

EMBO Reports

EMBO Reports is a peer-reviewed academic journal covering topics related to biology at a molecular level. It publishes primary research papers, reviews and essays and opinion. It also features commentaries on the social impact of advances in the life sciences and the converse influence of society...

, Molecular Systems Biology

Molecular Systems Biology

Molecular Systems Biology is an open-access peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing research within systems biology at the molecular level, including genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, microbial systems, the integration of cell signaling and regulatory networks, and synthetic biology.The...

 and EMBO Molecular Medicine. These span a broad spectrum of molecular biology topics and reflect how science is changing the world.

EMBO promotes Europe as an attractive research location to foreign researchers, and increases awareness of options for research and training in the life sciences in Europe. This strengthens ties with scientific communities worldwide.

An annual forum for scientific exchange, The EMBO Meeting exposes participants to new perspectives on topics covering the entire range of the life sciences. It encourages them to look beyond the boundaries of their own fields and aims to foster cross-disciplinary approaches to research.

Annually awarded, the EMBO Gold Medal recognises significant contributions of European researchers to the advancement of science.

EMBO Gold Medal Holders

2011 Simon Boulton Simon Boulton Simon J. Boulton is a scientist at Cancer Research UK, London Research Institute studying the mechanisms of DNA damage in metazoan organisms.-Honors and Awards:He gave the Royal Society Francis Crick Prize Lecture in 2011.... , UK 2010 Jason W. Chin, UK 2009 Olivier Voinnet, FR 2008 James Briscoe, UK 2007 Jan Löwe, UK 2006 Frank Uhlmann, UK 2005 Dario Alessi, UK 2004 Maria Biasco, ES 2003 Anthony Hyman Anthony A. Hyman Anthony A. Hyman is a noted British scientist and academic figure. Anthony studied zoology at the University College in London, went on to complete his PhD in molecular cell biology at King's College in Cambridge, and then completed his postdoc at the University of California in San Francisco.... , DE 2002 Amanda Fisher, UK 2001 Matthew Freeman, UK 2000 Christof Niehrs, DE and Daniel St. Johnston, UK 1999 Konrad Basler, CH

1998 Adriano Aguzzi, CH 1997 Dirk Gorlich, DE 1996 Enrico Coen, UK 1995 Richard Treisman, UK 1994 Paolo Sassone-Corsi, FR 1993 Jim Smith, UK 1992 Carl-Hendrik Heldin, SE 1991 Patrick Stragler, FR 1990 Erwin Wagner, AT 1989 Hugh Pelham, UK 1988 Antonio Lanzavecchia Antonio Lanzavecchia Antonio Lanzavecchia is an Italian immunologist. He was born in Varese, Italy. In 1976 he obtained his degree with honors in Medicine at the University of Pavia where he specialized in Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases... , CH 1987 Barbara Pearse Barbara Pearse Barbara Pearse is a British biological scientist and Fellow of the Royal Society. She works at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, United Kingdom.... , UK 1986 John Tooze, DE

See also

• European Molecular Biology Laboratory
  European Molecular Biology Laboratory
  The European Molecular Biology Laboratory is a molecular biology research institution supported by 20 European countries and Australia as associate member state. EMBL was created in 1974 and is an intergovernmental organisation funded by public research money from its member states...
  
   (EMBL)
• Federation of European Biochemical Societies
  Federation of European Biochemical Societies
  The Federation of the European Biochemical Societies, frequently abbreviated FEBS is an international scientific society promoting activities in biochemistry, molecular biology and molecular biophysics in Europe...
  
   (FEBS)
• European Research Area
  European Research Area
  The European Research Area is a system of scientific research programmes integrating the scientific resources of the European Union . Since its inception in 2000, the structure has been concentrated on multi-national co-operation in the fields of medical, environmental, industrial and...
  
  (ERA)
• The EMBO Meeting Website