The scientific investigation of the various research groups in the VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation research (IRC) is focused on molecular mechanisms of inflammation in pathologies such as allergy, autoimmune diseases, cancer, infectious diseases and senescence. At the heart of this research is the investigation of inter- and intracellular signaling pathways in innate and adaptive immune cells and barrier cells of the skin, lung and gut.

The core mission of the VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology (PSB) is to translate excellence in basic research into benefits for society. Much of the research of PSB is related to sustainability and climate change, and to new technologies that will make it possible to develop agricultural practices in better harmony with the natural environment.

The VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology (CMB) is VIB’s main center of biomolecular analytics and biopharmaceutical engineering research, with a key focus on protein technology. CMB also translates the novel technologies and insights into widely applicable research tools, vaccines, diagnostics and pharmaceuticals.

The research at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research (CBD) aims to unravel the basic biological mechanisms of neurobiology and brain disease. CBD researchers pursue these novel findings to solve major medical problems, such as different types of dementia and ALS.

The ambition of the Center for Cancer Biology (CCB) is to contribute to a better understanding of the biology underlying cancer initiation, progression and metastatic dissemination. We aim to identify novel biomarkers for the early detection, monitoring of cancer progression and therapy response and, ultimately, develop more effective anticancer therapies.

The VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology (CFM) combines basic research on microorganisms with translational research and industrial valorization. Using extensive knowledge of molecular biology and biochemistry, CFM research provides novel insights into prokaryotic and eukaryotic biology, ecology, genetics, genomics, metabolism, and pathology.

At the VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology (CSB), we study the structure and dynamics of macromolecular complexes in health and disease to explain their mode of action. We integrate our structural biology work with genetic and cellular studies, aiming to bridge molecular and cellular resolution. We excel in translating our discoveries into biotechnological and medical applications.

The overall objective of the VIB Center for Molecular Neurology (CMN) is to enhance our current understanding of the biology of the nervous system during healthy aging and in relation to aging-related diseases. The new information will be translated to the clinic as well as to experimental work to gain a comprehensive view of the disease process ultimately contributing to the development of effective preventive interventions and etiological treatments.

Research at NeuroElectronics Flanders (NERF, empowered by imec, KU Leuven and VIB) addresses fundamental questions in neuroscience, combining technologies from biology, physics, engineering & computer science. NERF research focuses on how neuronal circuits are built, how they perform the computations underlying perception, memory, thought and behaviour, and how their dysfunction leads to disease.

VIB.AI studies fundamental problems in biology by combining machine-learning with in-depth knowledge of biological processes. We aim to work towards foundation models and integrative theories of biological systems, and towards innovative AI-driven biotech applications in synthetic biology, agro-tech, and personalized medicine.