About IIM

The Institute of Marine Research (IIM-CSIC) is one of the main marine research centers in the Iberian Peninsula. Looking at the Atlantic from Vigo, a city with a strong connection with the sea, the IIM-CSIC faces the challenge of increasing our knowledge about the ocean, from its physical characteristics to the food we take from it and the processes that bind the whole system together.

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Research

Research is at the core of the Institute of Marine Research's work. Working along 3 Core Research Themes, which intertwine and connect to each other, the researchers and technicians at the IIM-CSIC look for answers within 9 different research lines.

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Innovation

While our research provides us with new knowledge about our sea and shores, at the Institute of Marine Research we are committed to go a step further, creating new collaborations with the industry and other economic activities, be they already 'established' industries, such as fisheries or aquaculture, or 'emerging' ones, such as ocean observation.

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Society

Science is not complete until it is shared with society. As a public research institution, the IIM understands that its commitment is with society, fostering a two-way relationship with its surrounding community and an open perspective on science.

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Work & Study

Marine scientists, lab technicians, biologists, chemists and engineers, but also economists, lawyers or communicators (both working and in training) contribute to the interdisciplinary nature of our center. With more than 200 employees, the IIM-CSIC is a large community of people who work together for the sake of science, knowledge and sustainability.

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News & Events

Do you want to be aware of the latest at the IIM? The Institute has a whole team involved in communication & outreach, sharing all news that arise and organizing events to reach all sectors of society: from other peers working in science to children in schools or our neighbors from Vigo.

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Biological Systems and Process

Biotechnology

Biotechnology is experiencing a rapid acceleration thanks to the advances in omic techniques and computing capacities, which allow us to better understand how we can put nature’s machinery to use for the good of humanity. Biotechnology is a broad discipline in which biological processes, cells or organisms are exploited to develop new technologies, with applications in agri- and aquaculture, food production, industrial processes and medicine.

Because of this wide range of applications, biotechnology is usually color-coded to refer to its four main fields of application. Industrial biotechnology is usually referred to as white biotechnology, while red is reserved for medical applications, green for agriculture-related developments, and blue for processes that encompass the aquatic environment.

The interdisciplinary nature of the IIM-CSIC allows us to collaborate with different industries for the application of biotechnological innovations across the whole color range of biotechnology.

You can read about all our capabilities and associated services below.

 

Research groups

Capabilities

  • Patent | An optimal operation for nisin production
    Biotechnology

    Authors:  Marta López Cabo; Miguel Anxo Murado García; M P Gonzalez Fernández; Laura Pastoriza Enriquez; Juan Jose Rodriguez Herrera; Lorenzo Miguel Pastrana Castro

    Method for nisin production in submerged culture based on reiterated re-alkalinization of the medium, provided that the culture maintains the capacity to recover its level of stabilization, combined with a discontinuous glucose feeding regime. More detailed information can be found here.

     

     

     

    Related research groups

    Microbiology & Technology of Marine Products
  • Patent | Procedure for the identification of albacore (Thunnus alalunga) in canned tuna
    Food industry 4.0 Nutrition and Human Health Biotechnology

    Authors: Carmen González Sotelo; Isabel Medina; Ricardo Pérez Martín; Javier Quinteiro Vázquez; Manuel Rey Méndez

    Technique for the identification of Thunnus alalunga in preserved tuna products, which comprises the amplification of a 187-pb fragment (BDR) of the cytochrome b gene in mitochondrial DNA by the sequential use of two endonucleases. This allows distinguishing it from other species used as substitutes for Thunnus alalunga in canned products. More detailed information can be found here.

     

     

    Related research groups

    Food Biochemistry Chemistry of Marine Products
  • Patent | Procedure for the identification of frigate mackerel (Auxis thazard) in canned frigate mackerel
    Food industry 4.0 Biotechnology Nutrition and Human Health

    Authors: Carmen González Sotelo; Isabel Medina; Ricardo Pérez Martín; Javier Quinteiro Vázquez; Manuel Rey Méndez

    Technique for the identification of Auxis thazard in preserved fish products, which consists of the amplification of a 187-pb fragment (BDR) of the cytochrome b gene in mitochondrial DNA by the use of a restriction endonuclease. This allows distinguishing it from other species used as substitutes for Auxis thazard. More detailed information can found here.

     

    Related research groups

    Food Biochemistry Chemistry of Marine Products
  • Capabilities | Advanced -omics applied to marine organisms
    Biotechnology

    Studies on the structure of the genome of marine organisms, including gene mapping, DNA sequencing and how the complete set of RNA transcripts is produced by the genome and affected by development, diseases, or environmental factors conditioning the phenotype and particularly proteomics and metabolomics, always applying the most advanced techniques (ATAC-seq, MethylCap-Seq, RNA-seq, recombinant DNA technology, knockin and knockout CRISPR/Cas9, enhancer detector (ZED),Tol2 kit and BAC transgenic technologies, etc.).

    Related research groups

    Immunology & Genomics Aquatic Biotechnology Lab Marine Molecular Pathobiology

Services

Active projects