The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is an intergovernmental research organization that conducts cutting-edge scientific research in molecular biology, provides services and infrastructure, trains scientists, and fosters collaboration across Europe to address global challenges in health and the environment.
What are the core principles behind EMBL’s work?
EMBL’s mission focuses on five key areas: excellent basic research, services and infrastructure, training, innovation and translation, and integrating life sciences across Europe. First and foremost, we conduct cutting-edge research, with past achievements recognized by Nobel Prizes. We are also home to some of the largest biological data repositories, which are open and accessible to the scientific community through the European Bioinformatics Institute. Our second mission is to provide services, such as mobile laboratories and advanced facilities, which support scientists working on important projects like coastal ecosystem analysis.
Our third mission is training, where we offer programs for researchers at all levels. EMBL hosts one of Europe’s largest venues for life sciences conferences, enabling scientists worldwide to collaborate. The fourth mission, innovation and translation, helps turn basic discoveries into real-world applications. One notable example is the use of cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) to develop vaccines. Finally, we focus on integrating life sciences across Europe, fostering collaborative networks and infrastructures like Elixir and Euro-bioimaging. These missions underscore EMBL's role in advancing science that benefits both human and planetary health.
What challenges does Europe need to overcome to become a global life sciences leader?
Europe has certainly made significant strides in biotechnology and pharma, with success stories like the Covid-19 vaccine developed by BioNTech, but there are challenges. One of the main issues is fragmentation. Despite the European Union, science funding often remains nationally focused, leading to disparities in investment. Europe also faces a lower risk appetite compared to places like the US, particularly when it comes to venture capital. While there has been progress, such as improved investment in France, Germany, and the UK, Europe still lags behind in terms of fostering startup cultures and attracting large-scale investments. This lack of a robust investment ecosystem, especially in research and infrastructure, can slow the innovation cycle.
Additionally, Europe needs more virtuous cycles, where discoveries lead to technological advancements and real-world applications. EMBL has facilitated such cycles, as seen with the development of Cellzome, which was later acquired by GSK. If Europe can further encourage industry partnerships and cross-sector collaboration, it could accelerate the pace of innovation. Ultimately, Europe’s strength lies in its research infrastructures, such as EMBL and CERN, which are unparalleled globally, but the region must overcome the historical reluctance towards innovation to fully realize its potential.
How do you view the future of AI in life sciences?
AI is a transformative force in science, particularly in biology, where vast amounts of data are increasingly being generated. EMBL has long been involved in AI, even before it became a widespread focus. A key example is the development of AlphaFold, which leveraged decades of protein structure data, making a breakthrough in predicting protein folding, and whose creators were awarded the Nobel Prize last year. For AI to succeed in science, four elements are essential: a significant scientific question, high-quality big data, the right people with expertise in both biology and machine learning, and sufficient computing power. EMBL is well-positioned in all these areas, with our wealth of biological data and interdisciplinary training programs.
At EMBL, we have hosted machine learning experts for years, and our open-source philosophy allows us to collaborate effectively with external partners like Google DeepMind. AlphaFold’s success demonstrates how AI can accelerate scientific discovery, with applications ranging from drug target identification to understanding how proteins react to environmental stress. AI is not just about processing data; it’s about having the right infrastructure, people, and trust to drive meaningful change. EMBL’s efforts in this space aim to ensure that AI is used responsibly to solve complex biological problems and improve health outcomes.
What exciting developments do you foresee for EMBL in the next year?
As EMBL moves towards the end of its current five-year program, "Molecules to Ecosystems," we are already thinking about the next steps. One of the most exciting areas is addressing the planetary health challenges, particularly the impact of climate change and pollution on ecosystems. Our programme´s flagship project, TREC, an expedition which maps European coastlines, has already produced important insights, and we expect to see more groundbreaking discoveries in this area in the coming years. Additionally, as EMBL celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, there is a renewed focus on preserving Europe’s scientific infrastructure and fostering international collaboration.
Looking ahead, I am excited about the opportunities to push for both human health and planetary health solutions. EMBL has a unique role to play in addressing global challenges through interdisciplinary science, and I believe that the coming years will be a defining period for the organization. While I will be transitioning to a new role at the Francis Crick Institute later this year, I am confident that EMBL will continue to drive forward innovative solutions that will benefit both people and the planet for generations to come.
