Home | Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics

Welcome at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics

The Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg is an interdisciplinary research institution that conducts basic research in two key areas of modern biology.

Immunobiology is concerned with the ways multicellular organisms defend themselves against pathogens. Epigenetics is the study of inheritable traits that are not caused by changes in the underlying DNA sequence.

more

Research Groups

Our current labs.

Core Facilities

World-class expertise.

Publications

Institute overview

Staff List

Contact us.

News

Ibrahim Cissé joins the MPI-IE as new director

September 20, 2021

Biophysicist investigates the formation of enzyme clusters enabling gene transcription in living cells

more

2021 Trainee Award

September 06, 2021

The lab technician Kathrin Ganter at the Max Planck Institute in Freiburg receives the 2021 MPG trainee award

more

Sensing “junk” RNA after chemotherapy enhances blood regeneration

July 12, 2021

Hematopoietic stem cells take advantage of RNA from pathogenic remnants integrated in the genome to replenish the blood system

more

Otto Hahn Medals for Maria Samata & Fides Zenk

June 22, 2021

Two researchers of the MPI of Immunobiology & Epigenetics receive the award for gifted young scientists within the Max Planck Society

more

Start-stop system of hunting immune cells

June 18, 2021

Max Planck researchers reveal how immune cells coordinate their swarming behavior to eliminate pathogens effectively together

more

Seminars & Events

Seminar Series

Our seminar series bring regulary highly recognized scientists from across the globe to Freiburg. Seminars cover topics from the fields of Immunobiology, Epigenetics and other areas of biomedical science.

more

2021 Freiburg Science Fair

The digital “Freiburg Science Fair” from June 7-26, 2021 shows with vivid and interactive activities what research in the Freiburg region contributes to significant social issues and challenges.

more

Upcoming Seminars

No events

Career

Excellent PhD training

We train the next generation of research scientists. Learn more about our PhD program – the International Max Planck Research School for Immunobiology, Epigenetics, and Metabolism (IMPRS-IEM)

more

Welcome Service

We welcome all new arrivals, assists in the onboarding procedure, help you to find a new place and get acquainted with your new colleagues. Learn more about our services.

more

Job Offers

PhD Graduate Program (m/f/d) | Immunobiology, Epigenetics, and Metabolism at IMPRS-IEM

September 15, 2021

Director (m/f/d)

April 15, 2021

more

Multimedia

How the immune system learns to defend itself

Video February 11, 2021

podcast

Thomas Boehm talks to detektor.fm editor Dominik Lenze about vaccinations. The Max Planck Director explains how an immune reaction actually takes place during vaccination.

Who sets the traffic rules in the immune system?

Video

Immune cells patrol the blood vessels. Only in case of inflammation or infection of the tissue do they get the green light to leave the vessels abruptly. This is where the cells move cross-country - attracted by signals emitted by the damaged tissue.

Discussing X Chromosome Dosage Compensation

Video

Asifa Akhtar talks about how the male-specific lethal (MSL) complex, and the histone acetyltransferase MOF in particular, contributes to the regulation of the dosage compensation process.

Virtual MPI-IE Escape Room

Event

Do you enjoy puzzles and tricky quizzes? Would you like to get to know the research and the institute? Then our virtual Escape Room is the right challenge for you!

Sexual parasitism & immune system of deep-sea fish - Thomas Boehm

April 21, 2021

BBC Earth interview with Thomas Boehm on the anglerfish (AmazeMe, facebook)

more

Packaging art in the cell: Thomas Jenuwein

February 24, 2015

Chromatin is a complex of macromolecules in cells dedicated to package the long DNA into a smaller volume. In this video Thomas Jenuwein, Director of the MPI-IE, explains the principles of Epigenetics and how the changes in in the packaging of the DNA in the cells affects the gene output. This video is part of the Max Planck Cinema Series.

more