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Scientific Seminars

Below is a list of upcoming seminars at the LMB aimed at a general scientific audience and open to individuals throughout Cambridge. If you are not at the LMB and wish to attend a seminar, please contact the seminar secretary, unless the seminar is held online and joining information is included in the seminar information below. The LMB hosts ‘The LMB Seminar Series’, where 1-2 leading scientists per month are invited to speak throughout the year. Four of these lectures are named in honour of LMB Nobel Laureates Max Perutz, Francis Crick, César Milstein and John Kendrew, given by eminent scientists from around the world. The LMB Seminar talks and LMB Named Seminar talks are advertised widely throughout the local area and are open to all.

A full list of LMB Named Lectures to date can be found here. Details of other local seminars can be found here

  • Decoding Tissue Architectures with Single-Nucleus Multi-Modal Spatial Genomics

    Speaker: Andrew Russell, Postdoctoral Associate at Board Institute of MIT and Harvard
    Host: Dr. Phil Holliger
    Date: 24/06/2025 at 11:00am in the Sanger Seminar Room, Level 3, LMB.

    Further information

    Abstract: Recent technological innovations have enabled the high-throughput quantification of gene expression and epigenetic regulation within individual cells, transforming our understanding of how complex tissues are constructed. Missing from these measurements, however, is the ability to routinely and easily spatially localize profiled cells. We developed a novel strategy, which we call Slide-tags, in which single nuclei within an intact tissue section are ‘tagged’ with spatial barcode oligonucleotides derived from DNA-barcoded beads with known positions. As a proof of concept, we performed Slide-tags on the mouse hippocampus, which has a highly stereotyped architecture that enables rapid validation of spatial assays. Assay of this region by Slide-tags captured 744 nuclei per mm2, and delivered whole-transcriptome data that was indistinguishable in data quality from ordinary snRNA-seq. To demonstrate that Slide-tags can be applied to a wide variety of human tissues, we performed the assay on kidney, liver, lymph node, tonsil, testes, and brain. A major benefit of Slide-tags is that it is easily adaptable to virtually any single-cell measurement technology. To demonstrate this, we performed multiomic measurements of open chromatin and RNA in the same cells from a mouse embryo, identifying spatial patterns of neuronal differentiation. These advances facilitate high-resolution analysis of cell-cell interactions, as well as being more powered to detect changes in gene expression across cell types in space. Finally, we show that barcoded nuclei can be used as input into plate-based technologies to characterize the spatial distribution of somatic mutations in single cells. Slide-tags offers a universal platform for importing established single cell measurements of mutations, gene expression, epigenetic regulation, and antibody-based quantification into the spatial genomics repertoire.

  • LMB Seminar: Fast and slow pathways of ribosomal subunit association - In Person Only

    Speaker: Joachim Frank, Columbia University
    Host: Chris Russo
    Date: 26/06/2025 at 10:00am in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre, LMB.

    Further information

    We have studied Mg++ enforced ribosomal subunit association by time-resolved cryo-EM, and found several intermediates states that indicate the existence of multiple pathways. One of these is very rapid (~10 ms), the others are in the range of hundreds of ms. The results can be rationalized on the basis of electrostatic interactions and bridge formations between subunits incubated with Mg++ ions.

  • LMB Seminar: Cellular response to genetic change - In Person Only

    Speaker: Andy Fire, Stanford University
    Host: Phil Holliger
    Date: 30/06/2025 at 11:00am in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre, LMB.

    Further information

    The genetic landscape faced by a living cell is constantly changing. Developmental transitions, environmental shifts, and pathogenic invasions lend a dynamic character to both the genome and its activity pattern. We study a variety of non-canonical mechanisms that are utilized by cells adapting to genetic change and maintaining those adaptations through time and cell division. At the root of these studies are questions of how a cell can distinguish remember distinctions between "self" vs. "nonself" and "wanted" vs. "unwanted" gene expression.

  • Imaging lung lymphatics in action

    Speaker: Dr. Simon Cleary, Lecturer, King's College London
    Host: Mayuri Gogoi
    Date: 30/06/2025 at 11:00am in the Klug Seminar Room, Level 2, LMB.

    Further information

    Abstract: Pulmonary lymphatic vessels remove fluid and cells from the lungs. This lymphatic drainage is important for enabling the first breath and maintaining lung health throughout life. Understanding the molecular regulation of pulmonary lymphatic function could unlock new ways to improve treatment of multiple lung diseases, but studying pulmonary lymphatics has proved technically challenging. Simon Cleary has developed an intravital microscopy approach that has made it possible to directly observe cellular dynamics in functional pulmonary lymphatics. Excitingly, beyond lung lymphatics, this approach can also be used to reveal unseen biology in other tissues. He will present initial findings from experiments in inflammation and metastatic cancer models, and will discuss future research directions as a new investigator.

  • LMB Seminar: TBC

    Speaker: Marileen Dogterom, TU Delft, Delft University of Technology
    Host: Buzz Baum
    Date: 07/07/2025 at 11:00am in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre, LMB and Webinar.

    Further information

    Zoom link: https://mrc-lmb-cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/95584842300?pwd=V2DAKEE0bQXA4bbbSUryiRPELlhmzP.1

  • LMB-IP Graduate Life Sciences Symposium 2025

    Speaker: Various
    Host: MRC LMB GSA and Institut Pasteur YRA
    Date: 10/07/2025 at 8:45am in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre, LMB.

    Further information

    10-11 July 2025 See website for further information and programme https://www3.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/sites/gsasymposium/programme/

  • LMB-IP Graduate Life Sciences Symposium 2025

    Speaker: Various
    Host: MRC LMB GSA and Institut Pasteur YRA
    Date: 11/07/2025 at 8:45am in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre, LMB.

    Further information

    See website for further information and programme https://www3.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/sites/gsasymposium/programme/

  • LMB Seminar for Non-Scientists - Jan Löwe

    Speaker: Jan Löwe, Structural Studies
    Host: Alison Gillingham & Ann Graham
    Date: 15/07/2025 at 12:30pm in the Webinar.

    Further information

    Watch online here - https://mrc-lmb-cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/98435024245?pwd=LqFgbl3695PeopkKqptRP1b2cChl3j.1

  • LMB-CamAWiSE Event: What next for your career? Pre-registration required

    Speaker: Jillian Barlow, University of York, Sarah Burge, Cancer Research UK, Claudia Ferreria, CMR Surgical
    Host: Louise Atkin
    Date: 16/07/2025 at 12:00pm in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre, LMB.

    Further information

    Registration link: https://engagementhub.ukri.org/mrc-lmb-hr/70d0d3b0 The talks are followed by lunch and networking. If you would like lunch, please make sure you book in advance so we can order the right amount of food.

    Zoom link: https://mrc-lmb-cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/97693441401
    Meeting ID: 976 9344 1401

    Are you wondering how best to utilise your scientific skills?

    Are you planning your next step in academia or considering pursuing a career away from the bench?

    Would you like more information about different scientific careers from a range of speakers?

    Then join us to hear from three inspirational speakers who have gone on to do a variety of roles using their scientific knowledge, skills and expertise, the common thread being they have all spent time at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge. We welcome them back to hear about their career paths, and to be inspired by what they have achieved.

    This event is run in collaboration with CamAWiSE - Connecting and Inspiring Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine.

  • LMB Seminar: TBC

    Speaker: Christian Haass, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich
    Host: Ben Ryskeldi-Falcon
    Date: 21/07/2025 at 11:00am in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre, LMB and Webinar.

    Further information

    Zoom link: Christian Haass - https://mrc-lmb-cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/96372751903?pwd=C2hRQ8UF0B03vDp6IHGfWuTlsqzrTi.1

  • Next Generation Biophysics Symposium 2025

    Speaker: Various
    Host: Stephen McLaughlin - LMB, Chris Batters - LMB
    Date: 03/09/2025 at 9:00am in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre, LMB and Webinar.

    Further information

    Registration required

    An informal one day meeting organised by MRC LMB, MRC LMS and Imperial College London examining the application of cutting edge biophysical techniques in complex biological settings. Bringing together scientists in both academia and industry for stimulating talks and discussions how these new and emerging technologies may be able to address challenging questions in the future.

    For more information see https://www3.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/sites/nextgen/

  • LMB Seminar for Non-Scientists - Joergen Kornfeld

    Speaker: Joergen Kornfeld, Neurobiology
    Host: Alison Gillingham & Ann Graham
    Date: 11/09/2025 at 12:30pm in the Webinar.

    Further information

    Watch online here - https://mrc-lmb-cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/98435024245?pwd=LqFgbl3695PeopkKqptRP1b2cChl3j.1

  • LMB Seminar: Title TBC

    Speaker: Alan Brown, Harvard University
    Host: Kelly Nguyen
    Date: 15/09/2025 at 11:00am in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre, LMB and Webinar.

  • LMB Seminar: TBC

    Speaker: Nenad Ban, ETH Zurich
    Host: Venki Ramakrishnan & Suyang Zhang
    Date: 17/09/2025 at 11:00am in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre, LMB and Webinar.

    Further information

    Zoom link: https://mrc-lmb-cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/97937314535?pwd=SciQzQiuFkLGF3ERwcMiLLTEbryUxV.1

  • LMB Seminar: TBC

    Speaker: Hiroaki Suga, The University of Tokyo
    Host: Phil Holliger
    Date: 29/09/2025 at 11:00am in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre, LMB and Webinar.

    Further information

    Zoom link: https://mrc-lmb-cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/96488916942?pwd=BpCGRwD8hD8ec89yfaJ0yKPmV3o6lv.1

  • LMB Seminar: Title TBC

    Speaker: Bonnie Bassler, Princeton University
    Host: Lori Passmore
    Date: 13/10/2025 at 11:00am in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre, LMB and Webinar.

    Further information

    Zoom link https://mrc-lmb-cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/99006584805?pwd=yFgF0P1zMvOJEKkOES4eNPpntaUodk.1

  • LMB Seminar: Title TBC

    Speaker: David Klenerman, University of Cambridge
    Host: Lori Passmore
    Date: 03/11/2025 at 10:00am in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre, LMB and Webinar.

    Further information

    Zoom link: https://mrc-lmb-cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/94171771196?pwd=LbKuOThopk72DktYw3WJWcjBOGlKgG.1

  • LMB Seminar for Non-Scientists - Noe Rodriguez

    Speaker: Noe Rodriguez, PNAC
    Host: Alison Gillingham & Ann Graham
    Date: 25/11/2025 at 12:30pm in the Webinar.

    Further information

    Watch online here - https://mrc-lmb-cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/j/98435024245?pwd=LqFgbl3695PeopkKqptRP1b2cChl3j.1

  • Max Perutz Lecture - Title TBC

    Speaker: Dirk Görlich, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences
    Host: Haoxi Wu
    Date: 19/01/2026 at 11:00am in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre, LMB and Webinar.

  • Francis Crick Lecture - Title TBC

    Speaker: Aviv Regev, Broad Institute MIT and Head of Genentech R&ED
    Host: Madeline Lancaster
    Date: 09/03/2026 at 11:00am in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre, LMB and Webinar.

  • César Milstein Lecture - Title TBC

    Speaker: Edith Heard, Director General of EMBL and Collège de France
    Host: Marta Shahbazi
    Date: 11/05/2026 at 11:00am in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre, LMB and Webinar.

  • John Kendrew Lecture

    Speaker: Elena Conti, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry
    Host: Suyang Zhang/Lori Passmore
    Date: 18/05/2026 at 11:00am in the Max Perutz Lecture Theatre, LMB and Webinar.

    Further information