The Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine  in the Helmholtz Association (MDC) Berlin-Buch was founded in 1992 to build the bridge between basic molecular research and clinical research. It is one of 18 research institutions of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres, the largest research organization in Germany. Under the umbrella of molecular medicine, MDC scientists focus on the research of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, cancer as well as on diseases of the nervous system. Currently, 1 620 employees work at the MDC. Among the employees are also 468 guests from 56 countries. In recent years the MDC has developed into an internationally recognized research institute. In 2010 it ranked 14th on the Thomson Reuters list of the world’s “top twenty” best research institutions in the field of molecular biology and genetics.