The 25th session of the Board of Governors of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) took place in Trieste, Italy, from 21 to 22 May 2019.

The event was attended by Dr Manuela Elisabeta SIDOROFF, Director General of the National Research and Development Institute for Biological Sciences (INCDSB).

Board of Governors sessions are held annually, bringing together government representatives from more than 60 member countries to promote sustainable global science, technology and innovation in biotechnology.

The role of the ICGEB Board is to manage and administer the Centre, to determine the directions and activities of the Centre, to admit new members, to approve the work programme and budget, taking into account the recommendations of the Scientific Advisory Board, to adopt regulations on financial matters of the Centre and decisions on other financial matters.

The adopted items on the agenda of the session were presented, discussed and on their basis decisions were taken by the ICGEB Board of Governors, which will be published in the Final Report.

Election of the Director-General for the years 2019 - 2024

In addition to all the adopted decisions, activity and financial plans, strategies, etc., in 2019 the election of the Director General of ICGEB for a period of 5 (five) years took place.

Given that the mandate of the current Director General, Prof. Mauro Giacca, will expire on 30 June 2019, the Board was asked to elect a new ICGEB Director General (following the relevant procedure and timetable approved at the 24th Board of Governors session in 2018).

Thus, Dr. Lawrence Banks, ICGEB Scientific Coordinator and Leader of the Tumor Virusology Group, was elected Director General at the 25th session of the Board of Governors in Trieste on 21 May 2019.

Sir Richard J. Roberts, Nobel Laureate and member of the ICGEB Scientific Advisory Board, participated in this edition of the ICGEB Governors' Board.