Centers and Institutes

Biomedical Engineering Institute

The Biomedical Engineering Institute (BMEI) is an interdisciplinary research organization that leverages the collective expertise, imagination, and energy of University of Minnesota faculty from engineering and health sciences and individuals from local industry toward highly collaborative, goal-oriented research to solve problems in health care. The products of this research are new concepts, procedures, devices, and materials that will enhance the University's portfolio in health care delivery and will support Minnesota's health care product industry.

Center for Developmental Biology

The Center for Developmental Biology brings together investigators from throughout the University and across the country to share their broad expertise and interests. These range from development of invertebrate to human species and focus on principles of the establishment of body plan and organ formation. All are heavily dependent upon molecular genetics and cell biology. The Center faculty participate in a number of graduate training programs and they host an annual international research conference to establish relationships with other developmental biology researchers.

Center for Immunology

This University-wide multidisciplinary center serves to coordinate and promote efforts in immunology research, education and clinical applications at the University of Minnesota. Over 40 faculty from numerous departments and schools are members and participate in activities of the Center, providing a rich and collegial atmosphere for research and training in immunology.

Masonic Cancer Center

The Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesotat has been designated a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Comprehensive Cancer Center since 1998. One of only 42 in the country (and one of only two in Minnesota), the Cancer Center has a critical mass of investigators conducting basic, clinical and population studies using a multitude of research tools. More than 250 University faculty conduct research in prevention and etiology, chemical carcinogenesis, genetics, cell biology, immunology, transplant biology, hematological malignancies, solid tumors, and experimental therapeutics.

Center for Magnetic Resonance Research

The Center for Magnetic Resonance Research is dedicated to furthering knowledge of organ function and disease through advancement of noninvasive imaging capabilities for human subjects and small animal models. It is the home of one of the world's first four Tesla whole body-imaging instruments.

Institute of Human Genetics

Research activities in the Institute focus on the molecular aspects of human biology, development and disease. Research areas include cytogenetics, population and quantitative genetics, and clinical genetics. The Institute maintains the microchemical facility for the campus, providing automated instrumentation for protein analysis, DNA sequence analysis and DNA synthesis. The Institute also maintains the Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory for the Health Sciences.

Institute for Molecular Virology

The Institute for Molecular Virology (IMV) is an interdisciplinary institute that fosters and promotes fundamental research in virology, virology education and translational applications. A central goal of the IMV is to encourage collaborations that could lead to new discoveries and, ultimately, more potent diagnostics and therapies.

Lillihei Heart Institute

The Lillehei Heart Institute (LHI) is an inter-disciplinary research institute within the University of Minnesota's Academic Health Center and Medical School. It was made possible by a generous gift from Kaye Lillehei, wife of C. Walton Lillehei, the "Father of Open Heart Surgery." Dr. Lillehei received five degrees from the University of Minnesota and completed his training in surgery at this institution. He was on the faculty in the Department of Surgery from 1951 until 1967. The LHI membership includes over 130 multi-disciplinary faculty conducting both basic and clinical cardiovascular and/or respiratory research.

Stem Cell Institute

The University of Minnesota has a long-standing interest in innovative transplant therapies. Renal, pancreas, heart and lung, and hematopoietic stem cell transplant programs have been and remain at the forefront among institutions in the US and the world. The primary goal of the Stem Cell Institute (SCI) is to strengthen and further develop basic research efforts in stem cell biology, and to apply knowledge gained to develop innovative therapies for genetic and degenerative disorders.