The focus of the Matrix Biology Institute (MBI) is on furthering knowledge on the structure, function and therapeutic applications of hyaluronan.

MBI supports conferences with the primary objective of promoting communication between scientists and clinical investigators whose interest is hyaluronan or the intercellular matrix.

MBI conducts and supports a project of collecting all scientific papers and books (basic research and clinically oriented) on hyaluronan since the late nineteenth century. This library is continually updated and references will be available at the website of the Institute to investigators interested in hyaluronan.

In 2002 MBI began constructing an encyclopedia on hyaluronan. Experts on hyaluronan were invited to form an Editorial Board with the mission of designing, organizing and writing such an Encyclopedia. The objective is to review in depth all publications on all aspects of hyaluronan research, including its use in therapeutics. The encyclopedic collection of facts and critical evaluations of theories and hypotheses related to the structure, function and therapeutic use of this molecule will be published on the MBI website. Since this process will take several years to complete, chapters of the Encyclopedia will be available as they are finalized.

MBI initiated and supported a process to establish an international organization that will be responsible for organizing and supporting international meetings on hyaluronan at regular intervals. The name of this organization is: International Society of Hyaluronan Sciences (ISHAS).  Currently, ISHAS' headquarters are located at the Matrix Biology Institute. For more information, please visit the society's website at http://ishas.org.