1971- 1979 The seeds of ICBP: Once upon a time in America Rockefeller and Yale Universities years

1970 An idea was born in the minds ofProfessors Nicolae Simionescu and Maya Simionescu: a research centre for Cell Biology and Pathology should be created in Romania. They initiated this project, while in USA at the invitation of Professor George Palade with whom they had a great collaboration for 10 years at the Rockefeller University and Yale University (1970 -1979).

1971 The first draft of the Institute for Cellular Biology and Pathology (ICBP) made by Professors Nicolae Simionescu and Maya Simionescu.

1972-1979 A new building was constructed according to the design, structural and functional planning of Nicolae Simionescu and Maya Simionescu; they also obtained Fulbright fellowships for 12 young investigators to be trained in excellent laboratories in USA. Modern equipment was purchased.

1979 – 1989 A dream become reality but…difficulties start to show

1979 Official Inauguration of ICBP with a Romanian - American Workshop entitled “Transport of macromolecules in cellular systems” was attended by the Nobel Prize Laureates Professors George Palade, Christian de Duve and Gunter Blobel, and by Professors Marilyn Farquhar, David Sabatini, and Werner Franke.

For the next 15 years, Maya and Nicolae Simionescu have maintained the position of Visiting Professors at Yale University, New Haven and Columbia University, New York, USA being for three months annually involved in teaching and research. These associations have facilitated continuation of privileged links with USA Universities and outstanding specialists in the field, keeping an open bridge for scientific exchanges and avoid isolation, as well as to obtain fellowships for ICBP researchers. During these years, numerous young investigators from ICBP were trained in prestigious American Universities.

1980 All the Romanian research funds were cut.

First application for a 3-year competitive grant to the National Institute of Health (NIH), USA was successful.

1982 Professor Nicolae Simionescu founded the Romanian Society for Cell Biology (450 members throughout the country).

First Annual Congress of the Romanian Society for Cell Biology.

1983 Second application for a competitive grant from NIH-USA was successful.

Second Romanian-American Workshop on ”Cell Biology of the Vessel Wall”.

1985 Third Romanian American Workshop on” Cellular and Molecular Events in Atherogenesis“.

1986 The third application for a competitive grant from NIH-USA was successful.

1989 Fourth US- Romanian Workshop 1989: “Pathobiochemistry of the vessel wall”

1984 – 1992 Three successive Competitive Grant NIH

1990 –1995 ICBP was affiliated to the Romanian Academy.

ICBP became Member Institution of the UNESCO Global Network for Molecular and Cell Biology (UNESCO-MCBN).

Nicolae Simionescu initiated the Romanian Academy Grants

1991 Two collaborative grants FIRCA-NIH-USA (for 3 years) with Prof. Samuel Silverstein and Prof. David Stern from Columbia University, New York, USA.

1993 Funds obtained for collaborations within the European Community.

1995 Nicolae Simionescu left this world, passing from full activity into legend. In his memory, the Institute was named ICBP „Nicolae Simionescu“.

1995-2008

1995 Professor Maya Simionescu became the director of the Institute.

1996 The Institute was reconfirmed as member Institution of the UNESCO-MCBN.

1997 Grant awarded by the Swiss National Science Foundation for a collaborative project.

1999 20th Anniversary of ICBPInternational Workshop.

2000 ICBP “Nicolae Simionescu” was selected by competition Center of Excellence of the European Community.

2002 International Workshop “Cardiovascular Dysfunction in Hyperlipidemia and Diabetes“ held within the framework: Center of Excellence of the European Community.

2004 International 25th Anniversary of ICBP Workshop: “Cell and Molecular Biology - a key to defeat global risk diseases“.

2005 Grant awarded by the European Community FP6 Specific Support Action:“Strengthening the European Research Area by Reinforcement of Romanian ResearchCompetency in Genomics and Proteomics of Major Global Risk Diseases: Atherosclerosis, Diabetes and its Complications” (SERA). Project Director: MayaSimionescu.

2000 – 2008 Postgraduate Courses with International Speakers - Eight editions

2009- 2019

2009 International 30^th Anniversary Workshop: “30 Years on Route from Cell Biology to Molecular Medicine“

Grant awarded for the “CARDIOPRO” investment project in RDI infrastructure and related administrative capacity” Extension and modernization of the research infrastructure for increasing competitiveness in the field of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and obesity”. Co-funding: European Regional Development Fund - SOP "Increase of economic competitiveness", Priority Axis 2: RTDI for Competitiveness, Operation 2.2.1., Financing contract: 17/01.03.2009, Project Director: Maya Simionescu.

2010 2^nd International Workshop „On Route from Stem Cell Biology to Clinical Applications for Cardiovascular Regeneration”.

2^nd International Congress and the 28^th Annual Session of the Romanian Society for Cell Biology.

International Biomedicine Exploratory Workshop: “Trends in Stem Cell biology and Embryological Research”.

2011 3^rd International Congress and the 29^th Annual Session of Romanian Society for Cell Biology.

2012 ICBP at the 33^rd Anniversary “33 Years on the Road from Cell Biology to Translational and Regenerative Medicine”;

Annual Workshop of the FP7 “RAMSES” project: Reinforcement of the Adult stem cell research area through Mobility and Scientific networking between Egypt, Romania and Germany. Project nr. 245691/2010-2013, Bucharest;

4^th International Congress and the 30^th Annual Session of Romanian Society for Cell Biology;

Official presentation of the newly created RDI infrastructure, as a result of the CARDIOPRO investment project.

2013 Grant awarded by Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) - UEFISCDI: ”Effects of Sex Steroids on Adult/Progenitor Cell- Mediated Cardiovascular Regeneration”.

The 2^nd Training School of COST Action BM0904 (HDLnet): “HDL: Physiology, regulation and therapeutic potential”.

Acad. Maya Simionescu received the highest civil and military distinction of France: Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur.

2014 Grant co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund from Sectoral Operational Programme - Increasing of Economic Competitiveness: “Constitution of a New Cell Sorting and Cryopreservation Compartment for Research and Therapeutic Purposes” (SORTIS).

2015 Grant awarded by FP7 ERA NET (SIINN ERA-NET): “The effect on human health of Ag/TiO2nm-treated leathers for footwear industry” (NANO-SAFE-LEATHER).

The 1^st Congress of the International Society of Regenerative Medicine and Surgery.

A tribute session, In Memoriam Acad. Nicolae Simionescu (1926-1995).

2016 Grants awarded by Competitiveness Operational Programme 2016-2020:

- 1. POC-A.1-A.1.1.4-E-2015: „Targeted therapies for heart valve disease in diabetes” (THERAVALDIS). Coordinator: Agneta Simionescu (USA); Executive Director: Dr. Ileana Mânduţeanu.

- 2. POC-A.1-A.1.1.4-E-2015: “Improve institutional competitiveness in the field of type 1 diabetes by developing an innovative concept of immunotherapy based on mesenchymal stromal cells” (DIABETER). Coordinator: Nadir Askenasy (Israel); Executive Director: Dr. Alexandrina Burlacu.

Grant awarded by ERA-NET on Cardiovascular Diseases (ERA-CVD): “Exploring new pathways in age-related heart diseases” (EXPERT). Coordinator: Thomas Thum (Germany); Responsible Partner: Dr. Alexandrina

2017 The 2^nd Congress of the International Society of Regenerative Medicine and Surgery.

Grant awarded by FRIPRO-program from The Research Council of Norway: Multifunctional microbubbles for improved image-based diagnosis and drug delivery (MULTIBUBBLE). Coordinator: Responsible Partner: Dr. Felicia Antohe.

2018 The 12^th Central and Eastern European Proteomic Conference (CEEPC).

Grant on Cardiovascular Diseases (ERA-CVD): “Mechanisms of early atherosclerosis and/or plaque instability in Coronary Artery Disease” (ExploreCAD). Coordinator: Dr. Rune Hansen (Norway). Resp. Partner: Dr. Felicia Antohe.

Grant UEFISCDI: PN-III-P4-IDPCCF-2016-0172 “Targeting innate immune mechanisms to improve risk stratification and to identify future therapeutic options in myocardial infarction” (INNATE-MI). Coordinator: Acad. Maya Simionescu.

Grant awarded by UEFISCDI (international collaboration): PN-III-P4-ID-PCCF-2016-0050 “Mimicking living matter mechanisms by five-dimensional chemistry approaches” (5D-nanoP), Coordinator: Aatto Laaksonen (Petru Poni Institute). Responsible Partner: Acad. Maya Simionescu.

Grant awarded by UEFISCDI: PN-III-P1-1.2-PCCDI-2017-0697 “Intelligent therapies for non-communicable diseases based on controlled release of pharmacological compounds from encapsulated engineered cells and targeted bionanoparticles” (INTERA). Coordinator: Acad. Maya Simionescu.

Grant awarded by UEFISCDI: PN-III-P1-1.2-PCCDI-2017-0527 “Development of bionanotechnologies based on extracellular vesicles for early diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of atherosclerotic disease” (BIOVEA); Coordinator: Dr. Adriana Georgescu.

2019 Scientific Session organized together with National Science and Art Foundation: “The future of Research & Development & Innovation in Health. Opportunities for Romania – Horizon Europe”.

Summer School “Intelligent nanoparticles for targeted delivery of bioactive compounds: preparation, characterization and applications” within the INTERA Project.

Workshop “Recent advances on electrospun scaffolds as bio-matrices for tissues-engineered heart valves” organized within the INTERA Project.

Annual 40^th Anniversary ICBP-NS Scientific Symposium – “An incredible 40 years journey to understand cell’s secrets for the benefit of human health”.

2020-2025

2020 Commemorative seminar Professor Nicolae Simionescu

Workshop “Diabetes in cardiovascular disease; pathogenic mechanisms and targeted therapies“ within THERAVALDIS Project

Workshop "A new therapeutic tool in autoimmune diabetes:stromal mesenchimal cell” within Diabeter Project

2021 Joint International Conference under the aegis of the Romanian Academy 42nd Anniversary symposium of the institute of cellular biology and pathology “Nicolae Simionescu” and 38th Annual Scientific Session of the Romanian Society for Cell Biology ;from basic cell biology to personalized medicine during COVID-19 pandemic; creativity and vision in a rapidly changing world”

Workshop - “Recent progress in obtaining nanovectors for gene transfection”

2022 ICBP-NS adhered to the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for Recruitment of Researchers and received the Excellence Diploma for Human Resources in Research from the European Commission

Launching the Research Scholarship: "Maya and Nicolae Simionescu" whichis awarded annually, starting from 2022, through a national competition, to stimulate young researchers' performance in scientific activity.

2023 5 grants were awarded in the frame of PNRR-III-C9-2023-18 intended for the development of programs to attract highly specialized human resources from abroad in research, development and innovation activities.

The 44th annual scientific symposium of the Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology “Nicolae Simionescu” held jointly with the 40 th annual scientific session of the Romanian Society for Cell Biology

2024Anniversary Simpozion : IBPC-NS - 45 years of activity

2025 Grant awarded for the “Center of Excellence for Advanced Translational Research in Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases” SEARCH-VASC Project in the frame of PN-IV-PRO-CoEx-2024-1. ICBP-NS will participate as a partner in the implementation of Center of Excellence in Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases SEARCH-VASC. Symposium: Evocation of professor Nicolae Simionescu – the architect of the Romanian School of Cell Biology

International Conference - 42nd Annual Scientific Session of the Romanian Society for Cell Biology