In memoriam – Prof. Peer Bork

It is with great sadness that we learned of the sudden passing of Prof. Peer Bork on 16 January 2026. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, colleagues, and the many scientific communities around the world who have lost an exceptional scientist, leader, and collaborator.

Since 2025, Prof. Bork was Interim Director General of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and led EMBL with dedication and vision. Peer Bork’s association with EMBL spanned more than three decades, including positions as Head of the Structural and Computational Biology Unit (2001 – 2021) and Director of EMBL Heidelberg (2020 to 2025). Over the course of his career, he became a leading figure in molecular biology and bioinformatics, widely recognised for his pioneering contributions to computational biology, systems biology, and the study of complex biological systems.

Prof. Bork was also a long-standing and highly valued collaborator of the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB). He played an instrumental role in shaping and strengthening the EMBL–Luxembourg partnership, which was most recently formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at fostering closer cooperation in areas of shared scientific interest.

“Peer was a giant in the field and such a positive and curious person. I am shocked and deeply saddened,” says Prof. Paul Wilmes, principal investigator of the Systems Ecology research group and a longstanding collaborator of Peer Bork. “He was instrumental in building bridges between our institutions, reflecting his strong belief that today’s complex scientific challenges require cross-disciplinary and cross-border collaboration.”

Beyond his scientific achievements and leadership roles, Peer Bork will be remembered for his openness, intellectual curiosity, and a deep commitment to international collaboration and scientific excellence. His ability to inspire colleagues and connect ideas across disciplines has left a lasting mark on EMBL, the LCSB, and on the broader life sciences community.

We are deeply grateful for his contributions to our institute and will honour his legacy by continuing to pursue the collaborative, interdisciplinary science that he initiated.