IBYME
The president inaugurated two new labs of the Institute of Biology and Experimental Medicine
The facilities required a CONICET’s investment of more than 8 million pesos and were introduced within the framework of the celebration of the institute’s 70th anniversary.
President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner together with the ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation, Lino Barañao, and the president of the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Roberto Salvarezza, headed the opening ceremony of the new facilities of the Institute of Biology and Experimental Medicine (IBYME, CONICET-FIBYME).
The works financed by the CONICET required an investment of 8.732,000 million pesos. They were inaugurated in the framework of the 70th anniversary of the IBYME, institute that has engaged prestigious foreign scientists and research groups of the country to its staff.
During the videoconferencing, the president referred to the ten Argentine scientists that used to work abroad and were incorporated to the IBYME. She highlighted the historical investment in research and stated that “science and technology are some of the pillars of this government and country”. For his part, minister Barañao expressed that “we are in this historical building where two Nobel Prize winners worked, Houssay and Leloir, opening two new labs, commemorating 70 years of history of this institution”. Salvarezza made reference to the development of the CONICET and affirmed that “these last 10 years of investment have meant a remarkable growth in the number of researchers and fellows for CONICET”. Regarding the IBYME, he added that “it is an institution deeply linked to the science of our country and particularly to the life the Council. It has always contributed to Argentine science”.
The constructed area involves 687 square metres, with 11 laboratories, 1 grow room, 1 dark room, 1 cytometry laboratory and 2 equipment rooms. Furthermore, 230 square meters were upgraded including a radioisotope room, an animal facility, an emergency room, electrical room, multi purpose room and toilets. Currently, there are 106 CONICET researchers at the IBYME, 107 fellows, 44 professionals, technical support staff and 19 administrative employees.
Finally, Salvarezza added that “the works we are inaugurating today are going to benefit the whole community of the IBYME, over 350 people”. Besides, he remarked the challenge of the institution to continue improving technology transfer “always with the effort and excellence of our research”.
The IBYME was created on March 14th 1944 by the founder of CONICET and first Nobel Prize winner of Argentina, Bernardo Houssay. The main objective of the institution is to promote the advances of biological sciences and experimental medicine through basic and applied research, and the training of human resources. Its mission over 70 years of work has been to boost scientific knowledge in order to contribute to the improvement of human health, quality of life, and the economic and social development of Argentina.
The event was attended by the director of the IBYME, Damasia Becú, the president of the YBYME Foundation, Dr. Eduardo Charreau, among other authorities and scientists of the institution.