History of the Bavarian NMR Center

    
The history of the Bavarian NMR Center (Bayerisches NMR-Zentrum, BNMRZ) begins in the year 1989, when Horst Kessler was appointed full professor at the "Chair for Organic Chemistry 2" of the chemistry department of TU München (located on the science campus in Garching).     Kessler.jpgProf. Dr. Horst Kessler
 500er   pat
The 500 MHz and 600 MHz spectrometers from 1989 - the 500 is still running, the 600 was decommissioned in 2018.
   Horst Kessler was already well-known for his NMR-based research on peptides and other bioactive molecules. He immediately started to set up a high-field NMR lab at TUM, beginning with a 500 MHz and a 600 MHz spectrometer (both of which are still in use and have been retrofitted with cryoprobes for enhanced performance).
In 1993 TU München won one of two grants for a 750 MHz spectrometer from the German Research Foundation (DFG) which was finally installed in a purpose-built annex of the chemistry department in 1995.   BNMRZ_Anbau_750MHzThe annex built for the 750 MHz NMR spectrometer.
hardy.jpg    The 750 MHz spectrometer was at its time one of the largest and most powerful NMR spectrometers worldwide. It is also equipped with MAS accessories for solid-state NMR experiments.
In 1999 Steffen Glaser was appointed "Associate Professor for Organic Chemistry" at the chemistry department of TUM, with the research areas theoretical NMR spectroscopy and quantum computing.  

Glaser_Steffen_01.jpgProf. Dr. Steffen Glaser
BNMRZ_logo_2013.jpg  

On Jan. 1, 2001, the Bayerisches NMR-Zentrum was officially founded by TU München. The increasing importance of this field of research at the chemistry department of TU München had just been recognized by the DFG awarding again one of two grants for a 900 MHz spectrometer in Germany to the group of Prof. Kessler. Prof. Dr. H. Kessler and Prof. Dr. S. Glaser (Organic Chemistry, TU München) became the founding members of the new BNMRZ.
For the 900 MHz magnet a new annex was build into an inner courtyard of the department building, and the magnet hoisted there by a large crane. The new spectrometer was inaugurated in November 2002.  

Magnet_schwebendThe 900 MHz magnet is delivered by a large truck-mounted crane.

 

blochThe 500 MHz wide-bore magnet.

   Also in 2002 BNMRZ had its first high-field spectrometer for solid state applications  installed, with a 500 MHz wide-bore magnet.

On Feb. 8, 2006 Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. W.A. Herrmann (president of TU München) and Prof. Dr. Günther Wess (director of the GSF research center, now HelmholtzZentrum München für Gesundheit und Umwelt, HMGU) signed a cooperation agreement for the future funding and development of the BNMRZ.

   BNMRZ_logo_2015.jpg

Sattler_Michael_01.jpgProf. Dr. Michael Sattler

   In 2007 Michael Sattler was appointed full professor, as successor for the soon-to-be retired Horst Kessler. He became head of the newly created "Chair for Biomolecular NMR Spectroscopy" at TU München, in personal union with the head of the Institute for Structural Biology at the HelmholtzZentrum München, and member of the BNMRZ.
On Jan. 16, 2008 a symposium on "Perspectives of Biomolecular NMR Spectroscopy" was held to celebrate the cooperation between TUM and HMGU.   BNMRZ-Symposium_16012008_1.jpgFrom left to right: Prof. Dr. Günther Wess (HMGU), Prof. Dr. Michael Sattler (BNMRZ), Prof. Dr. Horst Kessler (BNMRZ), Prof. Dr. W.A. Herrmann (TUM) and Ministerialdirektor Dr. Friedrich Wilhelm Rothenpieler (StMWFK)
Reif_Bernd_01.jpg
Prof. Dr. Bernd Reif		   In 2010 Bernd Reif was appointed "Associate Professor of Solid-State NMR", bringing expertise in this fast-developing area to the BNMRZ where he became a member. He took over the existing 500 MHz wide-bore and a new 400 MHz wide-bore spectrometer, both equipped for solid-state NMR.
In 2010, a new NMR building was constructed at the Helmholtz campus in Neuherberg/München (ca. 12 km away from Garching), with one wing dedicated to housing the BNMRZ's spectrometers. A short time later the first NMR spectrometer was installed there: an 800 MHz spectrometer equipped with a TCI cryoprobe ...   pauli.jpg 
 bud2.jpg   ... followed by a 600 MHz spectrometer equipped with a QCI cryoprobe with 31P capability and a SampleJet sample changer which can be used for fast screening of a large number of samples
In 2014 Franz Hagn - newly appointed "Assistant Professor for Structural Membrane Biochemistry" at the chemistry Dept. of TUM - also joined BNMRZ as a member.  

franzhagn_01.jpgProf. Dr. Franz Hagn
 waugh_3.jpg   In 2015 a new solid-state NMR spectrometer was installed at the Helmholtz campus, equipped with a 800 MHz wide-bore magnet and (in the near future) also with accessories for dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP).
Carlo Camilloni started as "Assistant Professor of Integrative Structural Biology" at the chemistry department of TUM in 2015 and became a member of the BNMRZ. He left TUM and BNMRZ in 2017, following a call for an associate professorship at Milan University.    Camilloni_Carlo.jpgProf. Dr. Carlo Camilloni
Cornerstone ceremony on Nov. 16, 2015   In 2015 groundbreaking work commenced for the new BNMRZ building, based on a 2013 federal grant of 33 mio. €, including a 1.2 GHz NMR spectrometer (still under development at that time). The building site is conveniently located on the Garching campus, close to the Chem. Dept building.
Beginning of 2017 (half a year before schedule), the new BNMRZ building was handed over to TUM. In spring 2017 the groups moved from their romms in the old Chem. Dept. building into their new domicile.    
Housewarming party on the terrace of BNMRZ, April 2017

Finally, the first NMR spectrometers in the NMR hall		   In Nov. 2017, finally the first NMR spectrometers moved into the new impressive, but so far still empty NMR hall at BNMRZ. A total of five 500 and 600 MHz narrow bore and 400 and 500 MHz wide bore magnets were discharged and carefully transported over from their old location in the basement of the Chem. Dept. building. After re-charging the magnets, NMR measurement can continue at the new location - which still has plenty of space to accomodate future acquisitions ...
Anne Schütz startet a new junior research group at BNMRZ in 2018, with an Emmy Noether start-up grant from DFG. Her research focusses on pathogenic virions, which she studies using the tools of integrative structural biology.   Dr. Anne Schütz

800 MHz wide bore "Waugh" being lifted into the new NMR hall

  

 

 

In the course of relocation of our Helmholtz research groups, it was decided that the two 800 MHz spectrometers (one high-resolution, one solid state) at the Helmholtz campus in Neuherberg will move to Garching, into the new NMR hall. After discharging and warming up, the two magnets finally arrive at their new place in the BNMRZ building in Sept. 2018. The whole installation process will last another two months.