The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) has been chosen as a Centre of Excellence by Molecular and Cell Biology Network (MCBN), a UNESCO funded global network for molecular and cell biology. MCBN is a Switzerland based not-for-profit, non-governmental organization which is working towards solving global problems like malnutrition, injurious environmental factors -chemical or physical in nature-, uncontrolled population growth, degenerative diseases such as cancer immuno-deficiencies and ageing, the spreading of viral, bacterial and protozoan infectious diseases etc.

The network would help the scientists in the developing countries to share their common problems and help develop the initiative and momentum to work in these fields. The network takes note of the fact that many brilliant scientific talents leave developing countries for the developed world due to the absence of proper facilities. The network aims at augmenting the resource capabilities of scientists from developing countries.

According to Prof. Angelo Azzi, President MCBN, the network enables these countries to enter the main stream of research. It will also help the countries develop the basic tools and techniques and establish a suitable environment to the development of solutions to problems employing molecular and cell biological approaches. "Often, due to lack of knowledge, programs do not get initiated even when opportunities may exist for the exploration of what could be most valuable for a number of local and regional problems, " he said.

UNESCO is supporting MCBN as part of the Basic Science programs for the last 12 years.

CCMB is one of the constituent national laboratories of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research( CSIR), the premier multidisciplinary Research & Development organisation in the country.

The ongoing research programmes at the CCMB are in three major categories - high quality basic research in the frontier areas of modern biology, research relevant to societal needs, and application-oriented research towards commercialisation. These include the areas of biomedicine & diagnostics, evolution & development, gene regulation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, host-parasite interactions, membrane biology, protein structure, bioinformatics, functional genomics, theoretical biology, etc. CCMB has also taken lead in the dissemination of modern biological information through popularisation of science, science education in schools, and has been a meeting point for art and science.

The MCBN selection has come as a recognition of CCMB's contribution to modern biology. CCMB has also been designated as a South Centre for Excellence for Research and Training by the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Italy. Many prestigious international and national awards have come to CCMB including the CSIR Technology Award (twice) and FICCI Award for outstanding achievements in Science & Technology.