Welcome to the Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance at the Goethe University Frankfurt!

The BMRZ is a research infrastructure facility for high-end nuclear (NMR) and electron magnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR). Our research is dedicated to the elucidation of structure and functional mechanism of biomolecules ranging from RNA and RNA-protein complexes via large soluble protein complexes to membrane proteins.

The center is located at the new Riedberg campus, which is a rapidly developing and internationally recognized hotspot for biomolecular research.

The BMRZ was founded in 2002 and currently consists of seven independent PI’s holding professorships in the Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry & Pharmacy and in the Department of Biomolecular Life Sciences. The groups of Harald Schwalbe, Jens Wöhnert and Volker Dötsch mainly use liquid-state NMR spectroscopy, Peter Güntert is specialized on NMR-based protein structure calculations, while the lab of Clemens Glaubitz focuses on solid-state NMR and Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) and Thomas Prisner's research is dedicated to EPR and DNP spectroscopy. Björn Corzilius was recently welcomed as Emmy-Noether-Awardee and will dedicate his research to the field of solid-state DNP. Approx. 100 PhD students and postdocs are working on all aspects of biomolecular magnetic resonance making our center to one of the largest and most vibrant centers of this kind worldwide.

BMRZ is equipped with 14 high-field liquid-state NMR spectrometers (up to 950 MHz), two high-field widebore solid-state NMR spectrometers (850 and 600 MHz), four EPR spectrometers, a liquid-state and a solid-state NMR DNP setup and an advanced Linux cluster. In addition, all the required molecular biology, biochemistry and also chemical synthesis are carried out in house. BMRZ serves the scientific community as one of the European Large Scale Facilities for Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (Bio-NMR). BMRZ’s PIs are fully integrated into local research initiatives such as the Cluster of Excellence Macromolecular Complexes, the SFB 807 “Transport Across Membranes“, and the SFB 902 “Molecular Principles of RNA-based Regulation”. All PIs are also dedicated to contribute to the University’s mission to provide research-oriented teaching at highest possible quality. They contribute to teaching in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Chemistry and Biology. The Goethe University is amongst the top 100 research universities worldwide.