Institute for Cell Biology and Biophysics - Leibniz University Hannover

What Institute for Cell Biology and Biophysics - Leibniz University Hannover does

The Institute for Cell Biology and Biophysics (CELL) at Leibniz University Hannover is a public university research institute within the Faculty of Natural Sciences, conducting interdisciplinary research at the intersection of cell biology, biophysics, computational biology, biostatistics, and biofabrication. The institute is organized into five research sections: Cell Biology (led by Prof. Cornelia Lee-Thedieck), Cell Physiology and Biophysics (led by Prof. Anaclet Ngezahayo), Biofabrication for Drug Testing, Biostatistics (led by PD Dr. Frank Schaarschmidt), and Computational Biology (led by Executive Director Prof. Sophia Rudorf). Research spans hematopoietic stem cell niche biology, 3D biomaterial scaffolds for tissue engineering, connexin-based cell-cell communication, computational codon optimization (OCTOPOS software), protein synthesis modeling, and simultaneous inference statistical methodology.

The institute's technology stack combines wet-lab experimental methods with computational biology and biostatistics. Notable proprietary assets include the OCTOPOS codon optimization tool (integrating mechanistic mathematical models, stochastic simulations, and machine learning), tailor-made macroporous biomaterials for bone marrow analogs, 3D bioprinting techniques for drug screening tissue models, and multiple R packages published on CRAN for simultaneous inference in life sciences. The institute holds granted patents covering hearing loss analysis methods, physiological stress detection devices, and HSP90 inhibitor microarray screening technology. Research output exceeds 200 publications and 50 completed PhD theses. International collaborations span the Weizmann Institute of Science, Max Planck Institutes, and University Kaiserslautern.

The institute operates as a non-commercial public research entity funded through competitive grants from German and European funding bodies including ERC (Starting Grant project bloodANDbone 757490; Proof of Concept PRIOBONE 101138171), BMBF (NanoMatFutur BioNanoHSC, 3.18 million EUR), and DFG (including project 437345987). There are no commercial products, pricing models, or paying customers. Research outputs are disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, open-source software (GitHub, CRAN, Julia registries), conference participation, and collaborative research agreements. Customer-facing segments are limited to academic research communities, life sciences researchers, and pharmaceutical industry partners engaged through collaborative agreements rather than commercial transactions.

Name

Institute for Cell Biology and Biophysics - Leibniz University Hannover

Legal name

Institut für Zellbiologie und Biophysik – Leibniz Universität Hannover

Website

https://cell.uni-hannover.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Institute for Cell Biology and Biophysics (CELL) at Leibniz University Hannover is a public university research institute conducting interdisciplinary research in stem cell biology, 3D biomaterials, computational biology, and biostatistics. It serves academic and pharmaceutical research communities through grant-funded studies, open-source software tools, and collaborative research agreements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Biomedical Research Institute

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

In Vitro Model Systems & Organoid Platforms (iPSC/organoids, microphysiological systems) (HLAAAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transcriptomics & Gene Expression Profiling Services (HLAGANAE), Biostatistics, Statistical Computing & Clinical Programming (SAS/R/Pipelines) (HLACAOAO), AI/ML Platforms for Drug Discovery & Experiment Optimization (HLAGAJAO), AI/ML-Enabled Biologic Discovery Platforms (computational design, in silico screening) (HLAAAIAE)

Keywords

• Cell biology research
• Biophysics research
• Computational biology
• Biostatistics consulting
• Biomaterials development

Headquarters

HQ city

Hannover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Public research funding: Government-funded research through grants from DFG (German Research Foundation), BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research), ERC (European Research Council), and other public funding bodies

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The institute conducts interdisciplinary research in cell biology, cell physiology and biophysics, biofabrication for drug testing, biostatistics, and computational biology. It investigates the interactions between cellular biosystems and their microenvironments using bespoke biomaterials, develops in vitro tissue models for drug screening, builds computational tools such as the OCTOPOS codon optimizer, and produces statistical R packages for complex biological data analysis. Deliverables include peer-reviewed publications, research collaborations, university teaching, biostatistical consulting, and open-source software.

Product overview

The Institute for Cell Biology and Biophysics (CELL) at Leibniz University Hannover is a research and educational institution rather than a commercial product company. It conducts interdisciplinary research in cell biology, biophysics, computational biology, biostatistics, biofabrication for drug testing, and Matrix Evolution. The institute offers teaching services, biostatistical consulting, and develops research software tools (such as OCTOPOS for computational codon optimization). Their primary offerings are research collaborations, academic publications, educational programs, and consulting services for the scientific community, rather than commercial products or SaaS platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FemMatrix: Network for female scientists in Lower Saxony from life sciences, natural sciences and medicine. Initiated by the Matrix Evolution research network in Hannover.
• Matrix Evolution

Products and services

• OCTOPOS Computational Codon Optimization Software Software tool that performs computational codon optimization by integrating mechanistic mathematical models of in-vivo mRNA translation with stochastic simulations and machine learning, used by synthetic biology and protein engineering researchers.
• Biostatistics R Packages for Simultaneous Inference (CRAN) R packages implementing simultaneous confidence intervals and multiple comparison procedures, used by quantitative researchers in agricultural sciences, life sciences, and genetics for complex experimental designs and overdispersed data.
• Research Collaboration Services on 3D Biomaterial Platforms Collaborative research services using tailor-made, macroporous biomaterials to model bone marrow microenvironments and other tissues, offered to academic and pharmaceutical partners for disease modeling and regenerative medicine applications.
• Cell Physiology and Biophysics Research Services Research services studying cell-cell communication, gap junction channels, and 3D cell culture systems, with applications in cancer, stroke, and organ development/function for brain, heart, and bone.
• Biostatistical Consulting and Methodology Services Consulting and methodology development services in simultaneous inference, multiple comparison procedures, and overdispersed data analysis, supporting applied research in life sciences, agriculture, and genetics.
• Academic Teaching Programs in Cell Biology and Biophysics University teaching programs delivered as part of Leibniz University Hannover's Faculty of Natural Sciences, including participation in degree programs and supervision of theses across the institute's research sections.
• Matrix Evolution Collaborative Research Network Joint research network bringing together Leibniz University Hannover and Hannover Medical School investigators to develop hierarchically structured, bio-inspired matrices for tissue engineering and implant research.

Quantifiable outcome

• ERC Starting Grant funding secured for innovative bone marrow research
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and moderate.

• Hannover Medical School (MHH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMatrix Evolution research network is a collaboration between research groups at Leibniz University Hannover and Hannover Medical School, focusing on hierarchically structured bio-inspired matrices for tissue engineering and implant research
• Prof. Roy Bar-Ziv, Weizmann Institute of SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on protein complex formation research using silicon-based compartmental expression systems developed by the Bar-Ziv lab
• Prof. Marina Rodnina, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on position-dependent translation kinetics research, developing methods to monitor co-translational peptide folding and ribosomal exit tunnel interactions
• Prof. Felix Willmund, University KaiserslauterncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDFG-funded project on comparative quantitative analysis of chloroplast translation apparatus and its dynamic behavior in green alga and land plants
• Dr. Reimo Zoschke, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant PhysiologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on chloroplast translation research combining experimental and computational approaches
• Prof. Johannes Lankeit, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, LUHmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research on asymmetric competing reactions in cellular protein biosynthesis and pathway dominance analysis
• Prof. Reinhard Lipowsky, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and InterfacesmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on computational analysis of protein synthesis, diffusion, and binding in compartmental biochips

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) Mainz: Academic research institute studying gene regulation, epigenetics and DNA damage at the molecular and cellular level. Comparable in scale, funding profile (Landessiftung + Boehringer Ingelheim) and interdisciplinary mix of quantitative and experimental biology.
• ETH Zurich - Department of Biology: Swiss academic department combining cell biology, molecular biology, systems biology and biophysics. Comparable because of similar interdisciplinary mix and grant-funded research model at a major European university.
• Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research: MIT-affiliated non-profit research institute with similar small-PI structure and focus on molecular and cell biology. Comparable because both operate as mission-driven, grant-funded research institutes producing high-impact publications and translational IP.
• Allen Institute for Cell Science: Seattle-based non-profit research organisation applying AI/ML, quantitative imaging and computational biology to model cellular organisation. Direct peer because of shared emphasis on combining cell biology with AI/ML, computational tools and open data.
• MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB): UK Research Council-funded institute with similar small-group structure and historic strength in cell biology, biophysics and structural biology. Direct peer because of comparable scope in molecular cell biology, biophysics and a tradition of producing widely used methods and reagents.
• Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG): Dresden-based MPI focused on how cells organise themselves, with deep work in 3D cell culture, tissue biology and bioengineering. Direct peer because of similar wet-lab cell biology and bioengineering thrust combined with a small-institute, high-output academic model.
• Max Planck Institute for Biophysics: Frankfurt-based Max Planck institute focused on structural biology, biophysics and molecular cell biology. Closest direct peer given the overlapping name, scope and mission in cell biology and biophysics, and comparable German academic funding profile.

Broad incumbents

• Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology (HPI): Hamburg-based Leibniz institute under the same Leibniz Association umbrella. Comparable as a peer Leibniz life-sciences institute competing for similar funding and talent in cell biology, virology and structural biology.
• Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI): Large German Helmholtz research centre with broader remit in infection biology, but overlapping capabilities in cell-based assay development, 3D tissue models and biostatistics. Comparable as a larger public German funde competing for the same DFG/BMBF talent and grants.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI): German Fraunhofer institute working on cell therapy, immunology and bioanalytical methods, including 3D cell culture and drug testing. Comparable as a publicly funded translational research institute competing in biofabrication and drug-testing platforms.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institut-f%C3%BCr-zellbiologie-und-biophysik

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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