History

After the reunification of Germany, the former ZIMET Institute (Zentralinstitut für Mikrobiologie und Experimentelle Therapie) of the “DDR Academy of science” (Akademie der Wissenschaften der DDR) was split mainly into two entities in 1991: Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI) and Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMB). The IMB was oriented towards research on evolutionary biotechnology (Evolutive Biotechnologie) and genome sciences. In 1999, the Wissenschaftsrat proposed to develop a new coherent research concept for the IMB, taking into account potential synergies of different institutes on the Beutenberg Campus.

In 2003, Peter Herrlich was appointed new director of the IMB and the new scientific concept 'mechanisms of ageing and age-related disease' was proposed. Since then, the institute has been restructured to accommodate additional research groups which are supported by joint facilities and services. Several symposia on 'Molecular Mechanisms of Multifactorial Diseases and of Senescence' have been organized, and ten new junior and senior scientists matching the new concept have been recruited to establish independent research groups. According to its new focus, the institute has been renamed “Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)” in 2005. The FLI now represents the first national research institution devoted to biomedical research on ‘age-related processes’.

According to the standard procedures of the Leibniz Association (WGL) the FLI has been routinely evaluated in spring 2008. Following the site visit by the international reviewing committee, the senate of WGL attested FLI an excellent restructuring of the institute and very good, internationally visible scientific achievements. In the senates report (pdf; 6 MB) the flat hierarchy and incrasing internationality at FLI were particularly praised.

Fritz Lipmann (biographies) received the Nobel award (lecture, banquet speech) in physiology or medicine in 1953, together with H.A. Krebs. A significant portion of Lipmann’s work was directed towards the use of energy in cells. In 1937 and 1939 he presented the concept of mitochondrial ATP generation now known as oxidative phosphorylation. Much of the 1940ies were devoted to defining the use of ATP via phosphate transfer to proteins and via formation of the important intermediate of fat metabolism, coenzyme A.

With our current although still rudimentary knowledge of the links between metabolism and life span of an organism, and of the reduced mitochondrial energy production in ageing organs, Fritz Lipmann certainly layed the foundations for the research area of senescence.