Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology （hereinafter to be referred as IVPP) formerly the Cenozoic Research Laboratory of the Geological Survey of the Ministry of Agriculture and Mining, was established in Beijing in April 1929 to conduct excavations and fossil research on the relics of Homo erectus pekinensis in Zhoukoudian . It was upgraded to the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology in 1957 and changed to the current name in 1960.

IVPP is currently the only academic institution in China specializing in vertebrate paleontology, paleoanthropology, paleoenvironmental science and related biostratigraphy. The institute has four research laboratories (Laboratory of Palaeofish and Reptile Research, Laboratory of Palaeomammal Research, Laboratory Paleoanthropology and Palaeolithic Research, Laboratory Paleoenvironmental Evolution Research), one research Center (Zhoukoudian International Paleoanthropology Research Center) and one key laboratory (Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins, Chinese Academy of Sciences).

Since 2014, Tianzhushan UGGp and IVPP have been jointly researching on Paleocene vertebrate fossils and paleoenvironment. During June 3rd to 5th, 2015, the International Symposium on Terrestrial Paleocene Biota and Paleobiogeography co-sponsored by IVPP and Tianzhushan UGGp，was held in the Geopark, nearly 30 experts and scholars from China, the United States and France participated.