A laboratory researcher wearing protective gear uses a pipette inside a biosafety cabinet.

Research Overview

IBB acts as an incubator for a variety of research activities and was built to tackle complex medical research problems using an interdisciplinary approach.

IBB accelerates discovery and translation across the life sciences and engineering. We convene interdisciplinary teams to tackle problems spanning human health, environmental resilience, and biomanufacturing. Our researchers bridge fundamentals and applications — advancing new technologies, therapies, diagnostics, and data-driven approaches that move from bench to bedside and beyond. 

Research Centers
Core Facilities

Research Areas

Image of a healthcare professional using a digital tablet, with glowing icons of circuits, a brain, and medical symbols floating above the screen to represent the integration of artificial intelligence with health technologies.

AI and Health

IBB advances the future of healthcare by pioneering research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and human health, driving breakthroughs in diagnostics, therapeutics, and personalized medicine.

Illustration of transparent white blood cells with detailed internal structures floating in a pale blue background, representing advanced biomanufacturing processes used to study, engineer, and produce immune‑based therapies.

Biomanufacturing

IBB drives innovation in biomanufacturing by developing advanced biological systems, scalable production technologies, and next‑generation solutions that translate cutting‑edge research into real‑world impact.

Illustration of a tightly packed array of rounded, cell‑like structures in turquoise and gold, each containing a red central sphere. The repeating pattern mimics a biological tissue surface, representing concepts in biomaterials design and engineered cellular materials.

Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine

Researchers at IBB are developing advanced biomaterials that combine constructed materials with biological features. These next-generation biomaterials are designed to work closely with living systems, triggering specific responses and promoting integration with the body. 

Illustration of a bright orange cancer cell surrounded by blue immune‑like cells, with a digital targeting crosshair centered on the cancer cell to represent precision cancer detection and treatment technologies.

Cancer Technologies

IBB hosts research labs dedicated to different aspects of cancer biology. Their work ranges from studying the basic building blocks of cancer — like genes, cells, and the immune system — to developing practical solutions that can be applied in the clinic to help patients sooner. 

Illustration of a molecular structure made of glossy, translucent spheres connected by thin rods, representing atoms and bonds. The soft blue background emphasizes concepts in chemical biology and molecular interactions.

Chemical Biology

For IBB researchers at Georgia Tech, chemical biology is an emerging focus that drives the discovery of new diagnostics and therapies, provides powerful tools for studying biological systems, and plays a key role in advancing biomedical innovation and entrepreneurship. 

Close-up image of a pipette releasing a droplet of pink liquid into a clear multiwell plate, representing laboratory research in drug design, formulation, and delivery systems.

Drug Design, Development and Delivery

IBB researchers seek to further improve pharmaceuticals through research on drug design, drug development, and drug delivery. Our research on drug design emphasizes making new drugs to treat cancer, AIDS, bacterial infections, and other diseases. 

Illustration of a cluster of blue T cells covered with purple surface proteins

Immunoengineering

IBB applies engineering principles to understand, design, and manipulate the immune system, enabling innovative therapies, vaccines, and diagnostics that transform human health.

Illustration of pink, spherical cells encased in translucent membranes, highlighting cellular structure and mechanical forces that shape cell behavior

Mechanobiology

IBB researchers advance mechanobiology by uncovering how physical forces and the mechanical properties of cells and tissues drive biological function, disease progression, and therapeutic innovation.

Illustration of rod‑shaped bacteria covered in fine hair‑like structures, shown in vivid pink and purple tones, representing microbial dynamics and the complex behaviors of bacterial communities.

Microbial Dynamics and Infection

IBB researchers explore microbial dynamics and infection by uncovering how bacteria interact, evolve, and influence host systems, driving new strategies for preventing and treating infectious disease.

Illustration of a glowing DNA double helix with brightly colored bases and a soft, abstract background, symbolizing concepts in molecular evolution, genetic variation, and the emergence of new biological functions.

Molecular Evolution

IBB researchers use molecular evolution—the study of how DNA, RNA, and proteins change over time—to investigate the origins of life by reconstructing ancient biological systems and exploring how life’s earliest molecules first assembled.

Illustration of a glowing neuron with branching extensions set against a dark, abstract background, highlighting neural connectivity and concepts central to neuroscience research.

Neuroscience and Neuroengineering

Neuroscience research in IBB is highly interdisciplinary and includes studies of the genetic basis of neural systems and diseases, the functioning of neural cells and systems, relationships between neural activity and behavior, as well as cognitive processing and brain imaging. 

Microscope image of pink and purple organ tissue showing densely packed cells with varied shapes and textures, highlighting the structural organization of biological tissues.

Organoids and Organ-on-Chip Technologies

IBB researchers advance organoid and organ‑on‑chip technologies by creating miniature, functional models of human tissues that enable deeper insights into development, disease, and therapeutic response.

Illustration of a blue DNA double helix with one highlighted golden segment, representing genetic editing, engineered biological circuits, and concepts central to synthetic and systems biology.

Synthetic and Systems Biology

IBB researchers are using engineering approaches to develop a quantitative understanding of cell function and to apply this understanding for improved technologies to study biological systems such as the immune system or the nervous system.