Welcome to The Centre for Molecular Cell Biology
Our researchers study the biological organisation of cells, and the molecular mechanisms underpinning their function in health, disease and sustainable living. Our wide angle of exploration spans from the atomic structures and dynamics of living systems to their organisation in sub-cellular assemblies, cells, tissues, and organs. We are keen to translate of our fundamental discoveries into the drug discovery process, into clinical advances, and into the biotechnology industry. We commonly adopt an interdisciplinary approach including advanced imaging and genetic engineering techniques. This is frequently combined with high performance computing powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning. Collaboratively we address the grand challenges of food security, healthy ageing, anti-microbial resistance, green energy, and sustainable living.
News
Recent Publications
- Artificial cells evidence apical compressive forces building up during neuroepithelial organoid early development
Kanso H Di Cio S Rose R Palacios I Gautrot JE
Biomaterials, Elsevier vol. 328
24-11-2025 - Heterogeneity in responses to ribosome-targeting antibiotics mediated by bacterial RNA repair
Hindley H Gong Z Moradian S Giuliano MG Sapelkin A Kotta-Loizou I Buck M Engl C et al.
Nature Communications, Nature Research
11-11-2025 - E-cadherin endocytosis promotes non-canonical EGFR:STAT signalling to induce cell death and inhibit heterochromatinisation
Ramirez Moreno M Quinton A Jacobsen E Stempor PA Zeidler MP Bulgakova NA
Plos Genetics, Public Library of Science (Plos) vol. 21 (7)
21-07-2025
Recent Grants
- BBSRC AIDD CTP CASE Award: Syngenta
Conrad Bessant
£40,000 Syngenta UK
01-01-2026 - 31-12-2029 - Towards precision engineering of cyanobacterial cells
Conrad Mullineaux
£554,758 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
01-11-2025 - 31-10-2028 - AI-enabled vulnerability assessment of fungal proteins using multi-omics and multi-relational knowledge graphs
Conrad Bessant and Emma Tjong
£136,489 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
01-10-2025 - 30-09-2029