30 years on route from cell biology to the molecular medicine
We present you the Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology at 30 years of activity.
Nicolae Simionescu and I dreamed of this Institute in 1970, long before it became a reality in 1979. The idea had a short gestation phase, and a long completion period during which we had a remarkable, 10 years-collaboration with Professor George Palade at Rockefeller University and Yale University, USA. It was during this time when we started to design mentally the concept of a new Institute for Cell Biology in Romania, and then to work actively to convert the dream into reality. It was not easy. Our desire was to create a place where young Romanian researchers would have a chance to illustrate their talent and potential, and on a broader scale, to introduce modern cell biology to our country.
From the beginning we decided to concentrate on one generous research program that was both scientifically and socio-economically significant: uncovering at the cellular and molecular level, the functioning of the cardiovascular system in health and disease, and use the findings to challenge the main cause of death in modern countries: cardiovascular diseases.
Since its inauguration in 1979 the Institute has been a place where, initially, under difficult and uninviting conditions for research, we created a protected scientific island where, together with our younger collaborators, we utilized our mental power and energy trying to uncover the intimate life of the cells -how they live, how they get ill, and to enjoy the thrill of science.
We were fortunate to see our dream come true.
In this volume, we share with you some of the achievements of the first 30 years of activity, the unity and complexity of our research program, our attempts to enter the “realm of science” and serve science as a one-team group with the same ideals, morals and principles.
Nicolae Simionescu had to leave earlier.
Our strive to uncover the mysterious life of cells continues. We are fortunate: science has no limits, no frontiers, no borders. Just like Brancusi’s “Endless Column”, science is a permanent, endless exploration to uncover nature’s secrets, including our own. This is the adventure we were and are embarked on.
For our numerous present and past collaborators, the best wish I can think of is to continue to enjoy their inquiry into the Nature’s secrets with determination and honesty.
I hope they will value this as much as we have.
I worship the past 30 years, pay reverence to all who contributed to the making, continuation and safeguarding of ICBP and trust a bright destiny for my younger collaborators and for the Institute in the many years to come…
Maya Simionescu
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