The organization of this cluster of excellence exhibits a flat hierarchy. The general assembly (GA) of principal investigators is responsible for the scientific program whereas the steering committee and the coordinator manage the project and its intramural funding program under the scientific guidance of the advisory board and with administrative help from the project management office.

The Steering Committee is elected by the General Assembly and led by the Coordinator. The Coordinator is elected by the General Assembly and is member of the Steering Committee. The Coordinator presides over meetings of the Steering Committee and General Assembly and serves as an interface for external communication. He bears the overall responsibility for the development of the Cluster.

The Steering Committee consists of the following eight members and their deputies:

 

Cluster coordinator	Kräusslich
Vice cluster coordinators	Brunner, Holstein
Research area coordinators	Bukau, Schwarz, Bading, Bartenschlager, Brunner, Spatz, Holstein, Kräusslich
Representatives central areas Z	Wolfrum, Eils
Representatives non-university institutions	Schlichting, Pepperkok
Representatives junior investigators	Starkuviene-Erfle; Koš