Structural and Molecular Cell Biology
Our research focuses on understanding the fundamental mechanisms of cell structure and function, uncovering insights into cellular processes that can lead to advancements in medical treatments and biotechnology.
Our research aims to understand how genes work and affect the body. We study how genes are turned on and off, how they influence metabolism and how cells communicate, grow, move, survive, and die. We also look at how these processes shape brain development, behaviour, and the body’s balance and health.
We study how the body develops and stays healthy, and what goes wrong in diseases and ageing. Our focus includes heart disease, cancer (especially leukaemia and lymphoma), hormone-related conditions, injuries, and how the body repairs itself.
Research facilities
Our research uses cutting edge facilities at the School of Biosciences, and our researchers have a direct involvement in the creation and direction of some of them:
- Birmingham Advanced Light Microscopy facility (BALM) - for in vivo and in vitro fluorescent imaging using widefield, TIRF and Confocal microscopy.
- Functional Genomics, Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility - for high-throughput sequencing, RNA-seq and Chi-seq
- Advanced Mass Spectrometry facility - (Director: Helen Cooper): for identification and characterization of proteins and protein modifications.
- Birmingham Biophysical Characterisation Facility (BBCF) - for analysis of protein structure
- Phenome Centre Birmingham: for high-throughput metabolic profiling using mass spectrometry and NMR.
- Birmingham Fly Facility: to breed fruit-flies and share know-how in modern reverse and forward genetics.
- Transmission Electron Microscopy: to visualize cellular components and processes with high resolution