The Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine focuses especially on gene therapy and gene transfer technology, and on animal biotechnology. Director of the Department is Professor Ari Hinkkanen and Vice Director is Professor Seppo Ylä-Herttuala.

 The Department houses five (5) research groups:

• Animal Biotechnology, led by Professor Leena Alhonen
• Gene Transfer Technology, led by Professor Ari Hinkkanen
• Molecular Physiology, led by Research Director Pasi Tavi
• Molecular Medicine, led by Professor Seppo Ylä-Herttuala
• Novel Target Molecules, led by Professor Pirjo Laakkonen

The Department is responsible for the following core facilities of the Institute:

• Embryo laboratories for the production of transgenic and gene-disrupted animals
• Automated DNA sequencing unit
• Adeno, retro, and lentivirus laboratories for gene therapy vectors; biosafety level 2
• GMPlaboratory; biosafety level 3