Institute of Mathematical Problems of Biology

What Institute of Mathematical Problems of Biology does

The Institute of Mathematical Problems of Biology (IMPB RAS) is a Russian state research institute, established in 1972 as the Research Computing Center of the USSR Academy of Sciences and reorganized into its present form in 1992. Since February 2016, it has operated as a branch of the Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics RAS, headquartered in Pushchino, Moscow Region. Its core mission is the development of mathematical and computational methods for biological research, organized across specialized laboratories covering data processing, macromolecular crystallography, geomorphometry, biomechanics, and neurobiology modeling. Outputs include proprietary algorithms (e.g., adaptive analytical approximation via modified orthogonal polynomials, generalized spectral-analytic methods, ab-initio crystallographic phasing techniques), research software (LandLord for digital terrain modeling, Virtual Morphometric Globes for planetary surfaces, protein crystallography software packages), and the peer-reviewed electronic journal Mathematical Biology and Bioinformatics (published since 2006). Notable applied outcomes include original methods for determining the structure of low-density lipoprotein particles exceeding 300,000 atoms, in collaboration with international partners.

IMPB RAS serves academic and scientific research institutions rather than commercial customers. It maintains active research collaborations with Medical University of Freiburg (Germany), University of Nancy I and IGBMC Strasbourg (France), NYU Medical School and the University of Michigan (USA), plus domestic partners including the Interdepartmental Supercomputer Center and the Joint Center for Bioinformatics. As a state research institute, it does not commercialize products or services; operations are funded through the Russian Academy of Sciences / federal budget and grants. There is no venture capital, private equity, or public ownership. The institute's marketing/distribution function is limited to academic publications, conference presentations, and the journal.

The company's core technology portfolio spans digital signal processing, image analysis, X-ray and neutron crystallography, biomechanics modeling, magnetoencephalography source localization, and digital terrain modeling/geomorphometry. Key personnel include V.Yu. Lunin (Head of the Macromolecule Crystallography Laboratory, recipient of the Royal Society Kapitsa Fellowship), S.A. Makhortykh (Head of the Data Processing Laboratory), and I.V. Florinsky (lead researcher in geomorphometry). The reported headcount of 7 is implausibly low for a multi-laboratory institute and likely reflects incomplete data capture rather than actual staff count.

Name

Institute of Mathematical Problems of Biology

Legal name

Institute of Mathematical Problems of Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences (Institute of Mathematical Problems of Biology RAS - Branch of the Federal State Institution "Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics of the Russian Academy of Sciences")

Website

https://impb.ru

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IMPB RAS is a Russian state research institute (branch of Keldysh IAM RAS) developing proprietary mathematical and computational methods for biological research — including crystallography, signal/image processing, biomechanics, and geomorphometry — serving the academic and scientific community through publications, software tools, and international collaborations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Computational Biology Research

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Bioinformatics & Multi-omics Analysis Software (HLAGAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bioinformatics, Multi-Omics Data Analysis & Interpretation Services (HLAGANAI)

Keywords

• Computational biology research
• Mathematical biology methods
• Macromolecular crystallography software
• Signal processing algorithms
• Digital terrain modeling

Headquarters

HQ city

Pushchino

HQ country

Russia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

The Institute of Mathematical Problems of Biology (IMPB RAS) is a Russian state research institute that develops original mathematical and computational methods for biological research. Its work spans digital signal and image processing, macromolecular X-ray crystallography, biomechanics, geomorphometry, and mathematical modeling in neuroscience and bioinformatics. Outputs include proprietary research software, peer-reviewed publications, and the electronic scientific journal "Mathematical Biology and Bioinformatics."

Product overview

The Institute of Mathematical Problems of Biology RAS is a research institution focused on developing mathematical and computational methods for biological research. The portfolio includes proprietary software for signal and image processing (Generalized Spectral-Analytic Method), protein crystallography tools, digital terrain modeling software (LandLord), and a web-based system of virtual morphometric globes for planetary surfaces. The institute also publishes the Mathematical Biology and Bioinformatics electronic journal. These products are research tools and methodologies rather than commercial software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Generalized Spectral-Analytic Method for Data Processing A proprietary technology for adaptive analytical approximation of signals using modified classical orthogonal polynomials of continuous and discrete arguments, enabling data compression, feature extraction, and pattern recognition for scientific and biomedical applications.
• Software for Protein Crystallography
• LandLord Software for Digital Terrain Modelling
• Virtual Morphometric Globes for Mars and Moon
• Mathematical Biology and Bioinformatics Journal Electronic peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing original research on mathematical biology and bioinformatics, included in the Higher Attestation Commission (VAK) list of leading journals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Original computational methods for determining the structure of low-density lipoprotein particles with over 300,000 atoms
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Medical University of Freiburg (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on determining the structure of low-density lipoprotein particles. The work used original computer methods developed at IMPB RAS for X-ray analysis of lipoprotein structure.
• University of Nancy I (France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research on crystallography and structural determination of biological macromolecules, including ab-initio phase problem solutions.
• Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, Strasbourg (France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research on low-resolution ab initio phasing methods and other structural biology projects. Long-standing collaboration in crystallography of macromolecules.
• NYU Medical School (USA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMagnetoencephalography research collaboration using 148-channel measurement system with superconducting inductive coils (SQUIDs) for functional brain studies.
• Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics RAS (parent organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMPB RAS is a branch of the Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics RAS. Since February 15, 2016, the institute operates as IMPB RAS - branch of KIAM RAS.
• University of Michigan Biomedical Engineering Department (USA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on measurement of displacement fields for biomechanical tissue diagnostics and cancer detection research.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Allen Institute for Brain Science: US-based non-profit research institute conducting large-scale neuroscience research with significant emphasis on computational modeling and signal processing of brain activity data. Comparable to IMPB RAS's magnetoencephalography research and neural network modeling work.
• National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI): Part of the US National Library of Medicine, NCBI develops bioinformatics tools and databases for genomic and biomedical research. Highly comparable to IMPB RAS in its dual mission of developing computational methods (e.g., sequence analysis, structure determination) and serving the life sciences research community.
• European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI): Part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL-EBI provides bioinformatics services, databases, and tools for the life sciences research community. Highly comparable to IMPB RAS in its focus on computational methods for biological research and serving academic/scientific user base. <parameter name="peer_description">Part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL-EBI provides bioinformatics services, databases, and tools for the life sciences research community. Highly comparable to IMPB RAS in its focus on computational methods for biological research and serving academic/scientific user base.
• Global Phasing Limited: Crystallography software company developing tools for macromolecular structure determination by X-ray crystallography. Directly comparable to IMPB RAS's macromolecular crystallography software products (phase improvement, ab-initio phasing) and structural biology focus area.
• Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics RAS: Parent organization of IMPB RAS, this Russian Academy of Sciences institute develops mathematical methods for applied problems across physics, mechanics, and biology. Directly comparable in mission and methodology; effectively the umbrella institute that hosts IMPB as a branch since 2016.
• Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP): Vienna-based molecular biology research institute focused on molecular and cellular biology with strong emphasis on structural biology and computational methods. Comparable to IMPB RAS in its interdisciplinary approach combining molecular biology with advanced computational analysis.

Broad incumbents

• SciLifeLab: Swedish national life science laboratory operating as a distributed research center across multiple universities, providing technology platforms and expertise in molecular biosciences. Comparable to IMPB RAS in serving academic researchers with specialized computational and analytical methodologies.
• Broad Institute: Major US-based research organization focused on genomics, computational biology, and chemical biology. While larger in scale, it shares IMPB RAS's mission of developing computational and analytical methods for biological research, serving a similar academic and biomedical research customer base.
• Pasteur Institute: Major French non-profit research foundation focused on biology, microbiology, and disease research. Comparable as a large established biology-focused research institute with international standing, though broader in scope than IMPB RAS's computational biology focus.

Regional players

• Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR): International intergovernmental research organization based in Dubna, Russia, conducting research in nuclear physics and related fields. Comparable to IMPB RAS as a major state-funded Russian scientific research institute with international membership and large-scale collaboration networks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institute-of-mathematical-problems-of-biology

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute of Mathematical Problems of Biology