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INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BIOPHYSICS

Summer School...   Conference...


Living systems emit biophotons
(two algae Acetabularia acetabulum
emit photons in darkness)

Worldwide there are about 40 scientific groups working on biophotons. The biggest association is the International Institute of Biophysics (IIB) e.V., founded in 1996 in Neuss (Germany) for an interdisciplinary approach of the understanding and the investigation of living systems. 14 institutes (governmental research institutes and universities) are connected in common research on:

Coherence in Biology
Biocommunication
Biophotonics

Besides common research projects, visiting and exchange programs and educational projects, the IIB organizes annual conferences, where results are presented and discussed. Director and vice presidents of the IIB are Z.Rao, J.J.Chang and F.A.Popp, respectively. At the same time Professor Z.Rao is the director and head of the Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, J.J.Chang is Professor of Cell Biology in this wordlwide biggest Institute of Biophysics, and also belongs to the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg (Germany). Together with Professor L.Beloussov of the Moscow State University (the grandson of Alexander Gurwitsch), Professor Fritz-Albert Popp is the founder of the IIB and representative of the Institute in Germany and Europe. Rao, Chang, Popp and Beloussov also are teachers at international universities. The associated institutes belong to universities in China, England, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Poland, Russia and the USA.

New Approach
Plans
Vision
Major Activities in IIB

Mission
Strategies
Address
History of Biophotonics

The new IIB Building - Click on image to enlarge
The new IIB Building
(Click on image to enlarge)

New Approach
Despite the remarkable progress that has been made on the biochemical and biophysical description of living systems at microscopic level, the innumerable paradoxes seemingly connected to living systems are very far from being understood. We will try to describe these from a physical point of view, privileging the search of holistic quantities connected to the intrinsic coherence and the stability of such systems. We want to focus our attention on the role that the electromagnetic fields play within the living systems and in communicating through a biophysical way between various systems. Our challenge is to promote this extraordinary ventures: to understand the mystery of life. We will excel in developing and completing inspiring, high-return, affordable research in this field. We will also be able to respond effectively to the applied research needs from society and contribute to education and scientific literature.

Plans
The IIB will become a central place for international and interdisciplinary work in the fields previously described. These plans include strategies of funding and scheduling conferences, collaborations, research projects and training. The IIB's particular vision and mission express our highest purposes and guiding principles which are the basis of our plans. Our particular strategies, supporting our mission, are long-term institutional strategies - namely what we do for improvement and success. The short-term changes in goals identify areas requiring immediate attention and improvement.

Particular Vision
We believe it is necessary to expand the frontiers of physics to enrich the knowledge of living systems. This will deepen the IIB's current knowledge of life and will benefit humanity.

Particular Mission
The IIB's mission is achieving the IIB's vision; for this we intend to:

  • explore the reasons of morphological and functional stability of living systems
  • investigate the role of electromagnetic fields in the functioning of living systems
  • expand the IIB's knowledge of intercellular communication
  • apply the IIB's special capabilities to technical and scientific problems of practical interest

Particular Strategies
Establish the specific characteristics of "ultraweak photon emission" from biological systems (biophotons) from a physical point of view by performing crucial experiments to demonstrate the non-linearity and the coherence of this radiation. Enhance the expertise and experience in order to carry out the understanding and the conceptualisation of the biophotons. Examine the connection between biophoton parameters and parameters of electromagnetic fields on living systems actively. Examine the connection between the biophoton parameters including the "delayed luminescence" (luminescence after definite electronic excitation of the living systems with the aid of sources such as laser, ultrasound etc.) and biological parameters describing the state of living systems in combining the IIB's resources with those from partners in other laboratories and universities. Expand linkage between science and technology to enable new observational instruments that address critical scientific objectives and capture the benefits for commercial use through technology transfer. Publicise the wonder of life science among people, and enhance biophysical education.

Address
International Institute of Biophysics
Station Hombroich
Kapellener Strasse
D-41472 Neuss, Germany
Tel.: +49 - (0)2182 - 825131
Fax: +49 - (0)2182 -  825132
E-mail: iib@lifescientists.de

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