Since its foundation, the Institute of Microbiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences has been the leading scientific institution in Russia in the field of general microbiology and virology - taxonomy, ecology, genetics, and biotechnology of microorganisms and viruses. Many famous microbiologists have worked here for decades: Academician I.G. Atabekov, Prof. M.N. Bekhtereva, Prof. V.I. Duda, Corresponding Member of RAS L.V. Kalakutsky, Prof. Yu.N. Karasevitch, Prof. L.G. Loginova, Academician G.K. Skryabin, Academician A.S. Khokhlov, Prof. I.L. Rabotnova, and many others.

There are 2 departments and 10 laboratories in the Institute now. 117 scientists are working there, including 58 Candidates of science, 25 Doctors, and 3 Members of RAS; this is evidence of high level specialized knowledge and professional skill of the staff.

The high status of the Institute is confirmed by the large number of post-graduate students working here - about 20 of them from various colleges and universities.

Besides basic researches, our specialists make their contribution to applied science - they develop microbiological methods for extraction of precious multimetals from base ores, enhancement of oil recovery, purification of solid waste and sewage, reduction of methane concentrations in coal mines, production of various medical products from fungi, etc.

On 9th December 2003, as a confirmation of the Institute's great services in science, the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences named it after the great Russian microbiologist Sergey Nikolayevich Winogradsky.