An NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) spectrometer in operation, with a scientist preparing a sample for molecular structure analysis

Helmholtz Munich Joins Germany’s Instruct-ERIC Centre for Structural Biology

Molecular Targets and Therapeutics STB

The Bavarian NMR Center (BNMRZ), a joint research infrastructure of Helmholtz Munich and the Technical University of Munich (TUM), has joined the newly established German Centre of Instruct-ERIC. This represents a significant advancement in expanding Europe’s integrated structural biology infrastructure. Following Germany’s accession as an Instruct member in 2024, this development further strengthens collaboration among leading research institutions across Europe.

Instruct-ERIC German Centre Unites Leading Facilities

Instruct-ERIC is a pan-European distributed research infrastructure dedicated to providing access to cutting-edge technologies and methods in structural biology. Its mission is to drive innovation in biomedical science by offering open access to integrated structural biology approaches.

The German Centre of Instruct-ERIC comprises five major facilities: the Bavarian NMR Center (BNMRZ) at Helmholtz Munich and TUM, Goethe University Frankfurt’s Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, the German Electron Synchrotron (DESY) and European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser Facility (XFEL) in Hamburg, the University of Hamburg and Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB), and Forschungszentrum Jülich. Collectively, these institutions provide advanced equipment, cutting-edge technologies, and specialized expertise to the Instruct technology catalogue, offering researchers worldwide enhanced access to structural biology resources.

Research at the BNMRZ focuses on the development and application of advanced nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods for studying the structure, dynamics and molecular interactions of biological macromolecules, computational approaches for integrative structural biology, structured-based drug discovery, pulse sequence and methods development for solution and solid-state NMR spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging. The initiative is supported by Prof. Michael Sattler, Director of the BNMRZ and the Institute of Structural Biology at Helmholtz Munich, and aligns with the strategic vision to fostering international collaboration and driving infrastructure-based biomedical innovation. 

Expanding Access and Capabilities

The integration of the BNMRZ enhances the German Centre’s capacity to deliver state-of-the-art structural biology technologies and support to the global research community. Funded access is available to researchers from Instruct Member Countries and Organizations, while the facilities remain open to all researchers worldwide.