The Chair of Genome Research was founded at Bielefeld University in 2003 when the head, Prof. Dr. B. Weisshaar, moved to Bielefeld University from the Max-Planck-Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne. Building on expertise and long standing interests in the analysis of transcription factor networks and functional genomics, several projects integrating molecular biology, high-throughput technology and applied bioinformatics were newly launched at Bielefeld University. The chair is integrated into the CeBiTec (Center for Biotechnology) at Bielefeld University as part of the Institute for Genome Research and Systems Biology (IGS). With additional funding from BMBF, DFG, and EU the team includes about 25 people.