Max Delbrück Center

The Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (Max Delbrück Center) is one of the world’s leading biomedical research institutions. Max Delbrück, a Berlin native, was a Nobel laureate and one of the founders of molecular biology. At the locations in Berlin-Buch and Mitte, researchers from some 70 countries study human biology – investigating the foundations of life from its most elementary building blocks to systems-wide mechanisms. By understanding what regulates or disrupts the dynamic equilibrium of a cell, an organ, or the entire body, we can prevent diseases, diagnose them earlier, and stop their progression with tailored therapies. Patients should be able to benefit as soon as possible from basic research discoveries. This is why the Max Delbrück Center supports spin-off creation and participates in collaborative networks. It works in close partnership with Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin in the jointly-run Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité, and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK). Founded in 1992, the Max Delbrück Center today employs 1,800 people and is 90 percent funded by the German federal government and 10 percent by the State of Berlin.

Research Program:

Max Delbrück Center in figures

  • 1.179

    employees (as of 2023). Of these, 764 in science and 415 in administration with a 60,5 percent share of women.

  • 82

    research groups at the MDC work in three main research topics.

  • 25

    European Research Council Grants (ERC Grants)

News

  • Health

    Helmholtz researchers are developing a precise, adaptive digital model of the cell. This model is fed millions of pieces of biological data and is ready for virtual experiments.

  • At Helmholtz, nearly 9,000 doctoral candidates conduct research. Eleven of them have now been honored. Each year, Helmholtz awards the best and most original doctoral theses with the Doctoral Prize.

  • Health

    A recent study shows in which areas language models are already effective in everyday medical practice and in which areas they are not. We spoke to Altuna Akalin, the study's lead researcher, about…

  • Information, Aeronautics, Space and Transport, Health, Earth & Environment, Energy, Matter

    As 2024 draws to a close, we look back at defining moments in the community. Some are surprising, others are encouraging and still others are thought-provoking. What all ten have in common, however,…

  • Health

    The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft today announced the winners of the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize 2025. Among them are biochemist Ana Pombo from Max Delbrück Center and biologist Maria-Elena…

  • Health

    What opportunities will arise for medical research and the healthcare system of the future? To discuss this question, researchers from the Helmholtz Association met with decision-makers from science,…

Contact

Max Delbrück Center

Robert-Rössle-Straße 10
13125 Berlin

As curious as we are? Discover more.