The Max Planck-NCBS Center on Lipid Research was opened on 22nd September 2011. The Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG) and NCBS signed an MoU to facilitate collaboration on lipid studies and cell signaling in general.

During the Center's start-up phase, which will extend over five years, a research group will be set up in Dresden and Berlin. Its researchers will be involved in the biochemical and biophysical analysis of biological membranes and the genetic analysis of lipid metabolic processes in various animal model systems. An established research group in Bangalore will also be included in the work and another new group established that will focus on lipid research. K. VijayRaghavan, Director of NCBS, and Marino Zerial, Director at the MPI-CBG, will be responsible for the new Max Planck-NCBS Center on Lipid Research. The other scientific coordinators are Teymuras Kurzchalia (Senior Group Leader at the MPI-CBG) and Satyajit Mayor (Dean of NCBS). Dominik Schwudke, an NCBS international investigator, has already started work at NCBS and will be a key scientist in the project.

Scientists today believe that lipidomics could develop very soon into a key tool in cell and developmental biology, molecular medicine and nutritional science. "We would like to analyse the complete inventory of lipids in various cells and organisms in order to be able to develop tools that can use lipidomics for biological systems analysis and for investigating and treating diseases," says Zerial.

"This is an occasion where two strong partners join forces - partners, who can achieve two goals: the generation of new insights in a research area with great forward-looking potential and the creation of optimal funding conditions for young scientists in both Germany and India, " says Max Planck President Peter Gruss.

The Center is also designed to promote the mutual exchange of doctoral students and post docs. Regular monitoring of research work will come under the remit of a Joint Scientific Advisory Board, set up by the MPI-CBG and NCBS, which will evaluate the Center's work every three years.