Research
The Division of Molecular Biosciences aims to understand, at the molecular level, the function of cells as an integrated system including details of individual components and biological mechanisms that constitute the system. Research within the Division is inherently multidisciplinary involving colleagues in Medicine, Chemistry, Physics, Bioengineering, Computing, Chemical Engineering and Mathematics. A major theme within our research is to quantitate biochemical and biological systems at a molecular level to enable and drive interdisciplinary research at the interface between life sciences and the physcial sciences and engineering. The following research themes run through many groups withn the Division resulting in a highly collaborative research environment. See People for a description of individual research groups and themes.
Research themes
- Atomic Biology - Imaging cells and cellular components at atomic resolution
- Protein Structure and Function - Establishing relationships between three-dimensional protein structure and biological function
- Biomedical Glycobiology - Using glycan analyses and functional studies of sugar receptors in cellular recognition with an emphasis on disease states
- Integrative Systems Biology - Developing a Systems understanding of living cells and organisms at different scales
- Synthetic Biology- Developing an engineering-based framework to enable the rapid design of novel biological systems and pathways for applications
- Bioinformatics - Applying complex mathematical and statistical techniques to understand biological problems
- Membrane Protein Structural Biology - The application of new methods to express, crystallize and solve the structures of membrane proteins focused on therapeutically important human GPCR receptors
- Bio-Solar Energy - Using new Genetic Engineering approaches to create modified organisms to produce hydrogen
College-wide & Faculty Research Centres managed in the Division
Centre for Integrative Systems Biology and Bioinformatics
Head of Centre: Professor Mike Sternberg
Website: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/cisbio
The Centre for Integrative Systems Biology and Bioinformatics (CISBIO) was launched in June 2011 as a result of the merger of the Centre for Integrative Systems Biology at Imperial College (CISBIC) and the Centre for Bioinformatics (CfB).
Electron Microscopy Centre
Chairs of Steering Committee: Professor Paul Freemont & Professor Marin van Heel
Websites: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/electronmicroscopy
The Electron Microscopy Centre encompasses both the existing Centre for Biomolecular Electron Microscopy (CBEM) and the newly-acquired instrumentation for molecular cell biology. This facility allows the visualisation of biological structures from protein macromolecules to cellular organisation.
Centre for Structural Biology
Head of Centre: Professor Steve Matthews
Website: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/structuralbiology
The Centre for Structural Biology provides international expertise, core facilities and specialised training in all areas of modern structural biology research. Research includes macromolecular machines, membrane proteins, pathogen virulence factors & coordination of a Masters programme provides for interdisciplinary training in Structural Biology.
Cross-Faculty NMR Centre
Head of Centre:Professor Steve Matthews
Website: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/nmrcentre
The cross-faculty NMR facility provides world-class expertise and training in all aspects of NMR. The centre houses a biological NMR facility comprising a biologically equipped 500MHz / 800 MHz NMR spectrometers with cryoprobes.
Glycobiology Training, Research and Infrastructure Centre
Head of Centre: Professor Anne Dell FRS
Website: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/glycoTRIC 
The Glycobiology Training, Research and Infrastructure Centre (GlycoTRIC) promotes interdisciplinary study of the functions of sugars in biology and their roles in human disease in the field of glycobiology, at the interface between biochemistry and medicine across most faculties at Imperial College London..
