Area Academic Contact: Professor Kevin Chipman, j.k.chipman@bham.ac.uk
Research in the Molecular Cell Biology (MCB) Theme is focused on elucidating the molecular mechanisms that underpin a range of key biological processes in eukaryotic organisms that impact on some of the most challenging areas that confront mankind in the 21st century, such as human health and disease, and food security.
Research within MCB focuses on several core areas that are studied using a combination of molecular-cell biology, genetics, bioinformatics and systems biology. A number of groups are working on various aspects of cell-cell signaling and signal transduction in mammalian cells and plants. Specific topics include: growth factor signaling in relation to human disease; G-protein coupled receptors; signalling and regulation of sperm activity; Rho GTPase signalling in cell adhesion; regulation of cell surface receptors by tetraspanins; vesicle trafficking in cell motility. Several groups are using Drosophila as a model system in which to investigate neural development and post-transcriptional control of gene regulation. Plant reproductive development is a particular strength of the theme with groups working on cell-cell recognition and signalling during pollen-pistil interactions; chromosome organization and meiotic recombination.
MCB’s research is underpinned by state-of-the-art technology including the Advanced Microscopy facility, genomics and new generation sequencing together with mass spectrometry and other cutting-edge biophysical techniques. All of these recently benefitted from a £1.5 million equipment grant from AWM-Science City initiative.
Research within the Theme is funded by an extensive range external agencies including: BBSRC; CRC; EPSRC; Wellcome Trust; EU FP7; MRC, BHF, AWM, Leverhulme trust.
Current live funding amounts to £8.9 million
There are extensive inter-disciplinary links within theme, across the University notably with MDS and at an International level.
Staff working in the core areas of MCB are as follows:
Cell-cell signaling and signal transduction
Drosophila Neural Development and Gene Regulation
Plant reproductive biology