SBC was started in January 2000 in response to an initiative from the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF), as a collaboration between Stockholm University (SU), the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and Karolinska Institutet (KI). SSF provided the main funding for SBC during its first five years.

Since 2005, SBC receives centre funding from Stockholm University and the Royal Institute of Technology. Professor Sonnhammer is the director of the centre.

SBC provides a "critical mass" of internationally competitive bioinformatics research and methods development, and a strong environment for the training of postdoctoral, Ph.D., and project students in bioinformatics. It is also an important partner in collaborative projects both within Sweden and internationally. SBC strives to improve bioinformatics research and training in Sweden and to maintain Sweden's position as a leading European country in the bioinformatics arena.

Current research at SBC focuses on:

• Comparative genomics
• Membrane protein modelling
• Computational systems biology
• Protein structure and function prediction
• Phylogeny
• Orthology analysis

For general enquiries, contact SBC's director: Erik.Sonnhammer@sbc.su.se