北京生命科学研究所英文名称是“National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing（国家生命科学研究所，北京）”。 www.nibs.ac.cn
建立北京生命科学研究所是中国政府在发展生命科学技术领域的重要战略之一。基本原则是：把握时机，以改革试点的方式，采用与国际接轨的管理和运行机制，以国际一流科学家集体为基础，争取在尽可能短的时间内组建国际一流的基础生命科学研究所。北京生命科学研究所的主要任务是：进行原创性基础研究，同时培养优秀科研人才，探索新的与国际接轨而又符合中国发展的科研运作机制。
对这一设想，中国领导人给予了充分肯定和支持，并为此做出重要批示。经过多方论证和调查，由科技部、发展改革委员会、教育部、卫生部、中国科学院、国家自然科学基金会、北京市政府、中国医学科学院等8个部委为主体组成理事会，共同管理北京生命科学研究所的筹建和运行工作。北京市政府和国家科技部负责具体实施和提供主要的资金。每届理事会任期3年。
研究所实行理事会领导下的所长负责制，理事会是研究所的决策机构。第一任科学指导委员会由理事会聘任国内外著名科学家，组成科学指导委员会。科学指导委员会是学术咨询机构，其主要任务是对研究所所长进行聘任前的学术评估，提出推荐意见；对研究所的研究工作做出评估并提出建议。每届科学指导委员会的任期为3年。
研究所所长的聘任实行国际公开招聘，理事会发布招聘公告，并由理事会聘请的科学指导委员会进行评估、推荐后，由理事会聘任。科技部批准所长任职资格。所长必须在生命科学领域有世界领先水平的科研成果，且有很高的学术造诣和国际声誉。所长任期为5年，可以连任。2003年4月，理事会聘任美国得克萨斯大学西南医学中心的生物化学和细胞生物学家、美国科学院院士王晓东博士，和耶鲁大学植物分子生物学家邓兴旺博士为北京生命科学研究所共同所长。
实验室和科研辅助中心构成研究所科学研究工作主体，其中实验室为基本单位。实验室主任引用国际公开招聘的制度，经过所长聘请的评选委员会进行严格评估筛选后，由研究所所长批准。实验室主任聘任期为5年，实验室主任的工作将由科学指导委员会根据其学术水平和科研成果进行评审，同时所长结合其研究工作、对研究所的综合贡献和未来发展的需要来决定其是否进入下一期聘任。辅助中心主任由研究所所长指派或聘任。
北京生命科学研究所英文名称是“National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing（国家生命科学研究所，北京）”。
北京生命科学研究所位于北京市中关村生命科学园科学园路7号。
The National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing (NIBS, Beijing) was established to advance the frontier of basic research in the life sciences in China. Founded in 2003 as part of a strategic government initiative to further national development of science and technology, NIBS aims to become a first rate, internationally competitive research institution. Its faculty will educate future generations of life scientists and explore a new model for operating scientific institutions in China.
The major components of NIBS are its research laboratories and core facilities. The Principal Investigators (PIs) are selected from a highly competitive international applicant pool. Upon invitation by the NIBS Director, a Selection Committee evaluates the applicants and recommends candidates for appointment, and the Director makes the final decision. A PI shall serve for 5 years and the reappointment is contingent upon academic evaluations by the SAB and the Director’s evaluation of the PI’s research and contribution to the future development of NIBS. Heads of the core facility will be appointed by the Director.
NIBS is backed by the full support of the Chinese leadership. The Board of Trustees (BOT) is responsible for institute policy and consists of representatives from eight agencies, including the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSFC), and the Beijing Municipal Government. MOST and the Beijing Municipal Government are primarily responsible for overseeing the operation of NIBS and provide the major sources of funding. The term for each BOT member is 3 years and its members may be reappointed.
The Director is responsible for the daily operations of NIBS under the leadership of the BOT. The BOT shall further select well-known scientists to serve on a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). The SAB is consulted on issues related to PI appointment and research development. Its mission is also to select and advise the Director and provide support as needed to the BOT. The initial term of appointment to the SAB is three years, and its members may be reappointed.
The appointment of Director of NIBS is made following a rigorous international search process. After the BOT issues a call for applications, the SAB evaluates submissions and makes recommendations to the BOT, which makes the final offer. The Director shall be a well-established, internationally known scientist with distinguished research achievements in the life sciences. The Director shall serve 5 years and may be re-appointed. In April 2003, the BOT accepted the recommendation of the SAB and appointed Dr. Xiaodong Wang, a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and a biochemist and cell biologist from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and Dr. Xingwang Deng, a plant biologist from Yale University, as Co-Directors of NIBS.
Address of NIBS is No. 7 Science Park Road, Zhongguancun Life Science Park, Beijing, 102206，P.R. China.