Molecular Mechanisms of Life

Understanding how molecular structures and processes govern cellular function is key to addressing challenges in health, disease, and sustainable living. At the Centre for Molecular Cell Biology, we investigate the molecular mechanisms that underpin normal physiology and pathological states across eukaryotic and prokaryotic systems.

Our research spans diverse biological processes, including DNA replication, RNA repair, gene regulation, chromosome biology, cell cycle progression, organelle biogenesis, photosynthesis, and cellular interactions. By uncovering how these processes are controlled - and how they become disrupted - we reveal the causes and consequences of cellular states associated with cancer, neurodegeneration, and microbial infections, as well as the molecular principles underlying photosynthetic energy conversion in plants and cyanobacteria.

We combine advanced imaging with molecular and systems-level approaches in cell biology, alongside chemical biology, genetic and protein engineering, to probe these systems at high spatiotemporal resolution. By linking molecular insight to cellular function, this theme bridges fundamental discovery with translational potential, informing the development of targeted therapies, diagnostics, and biotechnological applications.