American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
A US-based learned society advancing biochemistry and molecular biology through publishing, meetings, advocacy, education, and professional development.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) is a learned professional society serving researchers, educators, students, and other professionals working in biochemistry and molecular biology. It was established on December 26, 1906, at a meeting organized by Johns Hopkins University physiologist and biochemist John Jacob Abel. The organization grew out of the scientific community associated with the American Physiological Society, which had been formed roughly two decades earlier. It was originally named the American Society of Biological Chemists and adopted its current name in 1987 as molecular biology became increasingly central to the field. ASBMB's principal role is to provide infrastructure for scientific communication and professional participation. Its activities include publishing peer-reviewed research journals, producing a society magazine, convening an annual scientific meeting and specialized symposia, offering webinars, administering awards and scholarships, supporting student chapters, and advocating for public investment in biomedical research and science education. The society also promotes diversity and inclusion in the scientific workforce and provides career and professional-development resources for researchers at different stages. The society publishes three principal research journals. The Journal of Biological Chemistry covers a broad range of biochemical and molecular biological research and is published online weekly. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics focuses on the structure, function, expression, and regulation of proteins and related proteomics research, while also carrying field-related reports and meeting proceedings. The Journal of Lipid Research addresses lipid biology in health and disease, including lipid function, metabolic regulation, genetics, clinical research, and epidemiology. ASBMB Today, a monthly society publication with a frequently updated online edition, reports on research, awards, meetings, careers, education, and issues affecting the scientific community. The society states that its three research journals became fully open access in January 2021. ASBMB organizes its annual meeting each April in conjunction with Experimental Biology and also sponsors themed symposia and online webinars. Its recognition programs include research awards, teaching and leadership awards, young-investigator honors, diversity-related awards, undergraduate scholarships, student chapter grants, and science outreach awards. The Mildred Cohn Award in Biological Chemistry, established in 2013, honors the society's first female president and recognizes innovative physical approaches to biological chemistry. Through its Public Affairs Office and Public Affairs Advisory Committee, ASBMB advocates for strong federal support of basic research, particularly through agencies such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. Its public-policy work also addresses the research environment, science education, medical-school preparation, and communication between scientists, policymakers, and the public. An annual Capitol Hill Day gives graduate students and trainees an opportunity to meet congressional representatives and discuss research and education priorities. Based in Rockville, Maryland, ASBMB is the United States member of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The society reports a membership exceeding 12,000 people, although the precise membership figure and its current executive leadership should be verified against the organization's latest official materials.
History
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology traces its origins to the early twentieth-century development of biochemistry as a distinct scientific discipline. On December 26, 1906, a group of scientists established the American Society of Biological Chemists at a meeting organized by John Jacob Abel of Johns Hopkins University. The society's formation was connected to the broader institutional network of American physiology: its roots lay partly in the American Physiological Society, founded approximately twenty years earlier, at a time when biological chemistry was becoming increasingly important to medicine and experimental biology. During its early decades, the society provided a professional home for investigators studying chemical processes in living systems. Like other learned societies, it helped members exchange findings, build professional networks, and develop shared standards for research and education. Its long-term role expanded as biochemical methods became central to genetics, enzymology, cell biology, metabolism, molecular genetics, and biomedical research. The organization developed scholarly publishing as one of its core functions. The Journal of Biological Chemistry became its broadest research publication, while later journal activity addressed increasingly specialized areas of molecular and cellular analysis. Molecular & Cellular Proteomics focuses on proteins and proteome-level research, and the Journal of Lipid Research concentrates on lipid biology, lipid metabolism, and related health and disease questions. The society also publishes ASBMB Today, which serves a different function from the research journals by covering society activities, awards, meetings, careers, education, and community issues. In 1987, the society adopted the name American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The change reflected the transformation of the field: molecular biology had become inseparable from modern biochemical research, and the society's membership and publications addressed subjects ranging from RNA and transcription to genomics, proteomics, signaling, systems biology, and molecular genetics. ASBMB's activities subsequently broadened beyond journals. It established an annual meeting held in conjunction with Experimental Biology, developed specialized symposia and webinars, and created a substantial portfolio of awards, grants, scholarships, and student programs. These initiatives recognize scientific achievement, teaching, leadership, early-career research, diversity, undergraduate research, and educational outreach. The Mildred Cohn Award in Biological Chemistry, created in 2013, commemorates Mildred Cohn, who served as the society's first female president in 1978. Public affairs and advocacy became another important part of the society's work. ASBMB engages with policymakers on federal research budgets, especially funding for the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation. It also addresses the conditions needed for a productive research environment, science education, preparation for medical education, and public understanding of science. Its Capitol Hill Day program connects graduate students and trainees with congressional representatives in Washington, DC. The society is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, and serves a membership reported at more than 12,000. It is the United States member of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, giving it a national role within a broader international scientific network. ASBMB remains an active professional society whose identity combines publishing, convening, education, recognition, advocacy, and support for the scientific workforce.
- 2021
Research journals become fully open access
[1]ASBMB's three research journals were reported as fully open access beginning in January.
- 2013
Mildred Cohn Award established
[1]The society established an annual award honoring innovative physical approaches to biological chemistry and the scientific legacy of Mildred Cohn.
- 1987
Current name adopted
[1]The society changed its name from the American Society of Biological Chemists to the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
- 1978
Mildred Cohn becomes the society's first female president
[1]Mildred Cohn served as the organization's first female president, an achievement later commemorated through the Mildred Cohn Award in Biological Chemistry.
- 1906
Society founded
[1]The American Society of Biological Chemists was founded on December 26 at a meeting organized by John Jacob Abel of Johns Hopkins University.
Products and positioning
A US professional and learned society combining scholarly publishing, scientific convening, education, recognition programs, community development, and advocacy for biochemistry and molecular biology.
Research journal
Journal of Biological Chemistry
ASBMB's broad biochemistry and molecular biology research journal publishes work across the life sciences, including molecular genetics, RNA, transcription, cell signaling, metabolism, genomics, and systems biology. It is published online on a weekly schedule and makes accepted articles available online as Papers in Press before formal issue publication. The journal is one of the society's principal channels for disseminating primary research.
Research journal
Molecular & Cellular Proteomics
This monthly online journal focuses on the structural and functional properties of proteins, their expression, and changes across organismal development and biological conditions. Its scope includes proteomics and related molecular analysis. The publication also carries selected field materials, including reports associated with the Human Proteome Organization and proceedings from relevant scientific meetings.
Research journal
Journal of Lipid Research
The Journal of Lipid Research covers lipid science in health and disease. Its scope includes lipid function, biochemical and genetic regulation of lipid metabolism, and patient-oriented or epidemiological studies concerning altered lipid metabolism and dietary lipids. It provides a specialist publication venue within ASBMB's broader biochemical portfolio.
Society magazine
ASBMB Today
ASBMB Today is the society's monthly news and community magazine. It covers awards, meetings, research highlights, careers, job opportunities, education, and human-interest subjects relevant to members. Members receive the publication as part of their society relationship, while its online edition provides more frequent updates.
Scientific meetings
Annual meeting and scientific symposia
ASBMB convenes an annual meeting each April in conjunction with Experimental Biology and organizes additional themed symposia during the year. These events provide venues for research presentations, scientific exchange, awards, networking, and professional development across biochemistry and molecular biology.
Professional recognition and support
Awards, grants, and scholarships
The society administers a broad recognition and support portfolio spanning approximately twenty-five awards, grants, and scholarships. Programs recognize research, teaching, leadership, young investigators, diversity, undergraduate research, student chapters, science outreach, and specialized areas such as lipid research, computational biosciences, biomedical science, and molecular parasitology.
Marketing campaigns
- Capitol Hill Day
United States
An annual advocacy initiative that brings graduate students and scientific trainees to Washington, DC, to meet congressional representatives and discuss research funding, education, and the scientific enterprise.
Outcome. Provides direct policymaker engagement and supports ASBMB's broader advocacy for federal investment in basic research and science education.
Brand decisions
2021
Move the three research journals to full open accessStrategyBackground
Open-access publishing was becoming an increasingly important way to expand access to scientific literature and reduce dependence on subscription barriers.
Action taken
ASBMB's three principal research journals were made fully open access beginning in January 2021.
Aftermath
The change broadened public and international access to research published through the society's journal portfolio.
1987
Rename the society to include molecular biologyStrategyBackground
The society's original name, American Society of Biological Chemists, no longer fully represented the expanding overlap between biochemistry and molecular biology.
Action taken
The organization adopted the name American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Aftermath
The new name established the society's contemporary identity and reflected the broader scientific scope of its membership and publications.
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