MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
One of the world's leading research institutes, our scientists are working to advance understanding of biological processes at the molecular level - providing the knowledge needed to solve key problems in human health.
New specimen support grids for electron microscopy, made of pure gold and designed by Lori Passmore and Chris Russo from the LMB’s Structural Studies Division, have been licensed for production by Quantifoil Micro Tools GmbH (Quantifoil). These ultrastable gold support grids improve the microscope image quality, revealing more information than was previously possible.
The opening weekend of the 2015 Cambridge Science Festival was a huge success, with thousands of visitors attending events on the 14th and 15th March. LMB scientists designed and ran two of the activities, ‘See your Cells’ at the Corn Exchange and ‘Crystal Clear’ at the Chemistry Department,
‘See your Cells’ was created by Simon Bullock and Monica Rodrigo Brenni from the LMB’s Cell Biology Division.
The LMB has appointed 30 Bird and public works as LMB Artists-in-Residence starting in April 2015. They are a collaborative team made up of a local performance company led by Mehrdad Seyf (30 Bird) and a participatory art and architecture practice led by Torange Kohnsari (public works). These ground breaking artists will engage with staff at the LMB to inspire new perspectives and understanding of the LMB’s research, both amongst people at the LMB, and the general public.
Venki Ramakrishnan, Deputy Director of the LMB, Joint Head of the LMB’s Structural Studies Division and Nobel Laureate, has been confirmed as President Elect of the Royal Society. He will take up the post of President on 1 December 2015.
Venki’s research focuses on the structure and function of the ribosome, the molecular machine that synthesises proteins by translating genetic information held in mRNA, and on the action of antibiotics on this process.
The Royal Society Philosophical Transactions is celebrating 350 years of publishing scientific research with a special issue of commentary articles. These articles look back at some of the major, historical, scientific landmarks in the physical and biological sciences, which were reported in Philosophical Transactions. Of the 17 biological papers chosen, which include papers by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, Alan Turing and Peter Medawar, two are for pioneering work undertaken at the LMB.
Double Nobel laureate, Fred Sanger, has been remembered in Cambridge with the unveiling of a blue plaque on his former home at 252 Hills Road. Friends, family and colleagues attended the ceremony, organised by the Society of Biology, on Saturday 7th March.
One of the founders of the LMB, and former Head of the PNAC Division, Fred had lived at the Hills Road house for over 40 years: throughout his scientific career.