IMP marks 40th anniversary with scientific symposium

The Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) celebrated its 40th anniversary today with a one-day symposium titled "40 Years of Finding Out" (follow link for photos). The event brought together current and former members of the institute, as well as invited speakers from around the world, to reflect on four decades of scientific discovery and to explore the future directions of molecular life sciences.

The symposium highlighted the evolution of the IMP from its early days as a small group of pioneering researchers to its current standing as an internationally recognized center for cutting-edge research. Presentations and discussions traced major scientific advances over the past 40 years, while emphasizing the institute’s ongoing commitment to curiosity-driven research and collaborative inquiry.

A keynote lecture by Michael Bronstein, Scientific Director of AITHYRA, addressed the increasing role of artificial intelligence in life science research. His talk, “Catching the Falling Apples: Life Science in the Age of AI”, examined how new computational tools are reshaping the way biological systems are studied and understood.

A notable moment of the celebration was the unveiling of a new portrait of founding director Max Birnstiel by his son Marcus. The artwork, created by artist and IMP alumnus Philipp Dexheimer, is composed of 10,000 oligo tubes that were used in actual experiments at the Vienna BioCenter. The event also included the presentation of the International Birnstiel Awards for Doctoral Research in the Molecular Life Sciences 2025, which recognize outstanding doctoral research in the life sciences. At the end of the award ceremony, participants were invited to try the first edition of the Birnstiel Torte, a cake created in reference to Max Birnstiel's life.