The Institute of Molecular Biology at the University of Oregon is an interdisciplinary research community, founded in 1959, dedicated to investigating biological questions at the molecular level. Our collaborative and interactive Institute brings together—from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Physics—scientists using diverse approaches and state-of-the-art facilities. The rich research environment provides exceptional training opportunities for young scientists. To join the IMB as a graduate student, see the Graduate Admissions page.
Evolutionary studies of the Wnt signaling pathway in the marine annelid Platynereis dumerilii. This new and emerging model organism is proving useful for understanding the evolution of developmental pathways that control animal body plans. Shown here are photomicrographs of 38-cell and 49-cell stage embryos. These images show fluorescent staining within fixed embryos stained for beta-catenin (red) and alpha-tubulin (green); views are from the animal pole. Tubulin marks the mitotic spindle, which helps to score cell division. beta-catenin is a key component of the Wnt signaling pathway that controls many developmental processes, including stem cell development, and is mutated in many important human cancers, including colon cancer.Bowerman Lab. For details, see Schneider and Bowerman, Developmental Cell 13, 73-86.
Recent IMB Research Publications
Structure and Proposed Mechanism for the pH-Sensing Helicobacter pylori Chemoreceptor TlpBStructure July 2012
Guillemin Lab
Developmentally Regulated Subnuclear Genome Reorganization Restricts Neural Progenitor Competence in DrosophilaCell January 2013
Doe Lab
IMB News
The Peter von Hippel Graduate Scholar Award has been established to recognize Pete's many contributions to the Institute of Molecular Biology and to support graduate education! Please consider donating.
The Institute of Molecular Biology and Department of Chemistry welcome new faculty member Mike Harms starting in Fall 2013!
Eric Selker has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences! Read more...
Chris Doe has been awarded the Medical Research Foundation Discovery Award
297 Klamath Hall