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.

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Brain research in the third dimension

Brain research in the third dimension

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Madeline Lancaster, cell biologist at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, has developed a technique allowing her to create mini brains from cell cultures. These incredible organoids, no larger than the eraser at the end of a pencil, serve as a model for Madeline’s research into early human brain development and are enabling […]

Trim-Away: powerful new tool for studying protein function

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All the cells in our body contain thousands of proteins, molecular machines which carry out almost all biological processes that are essential for life. Many diseases, such as cancer and neurodegeneration, are caused when these protein machines go wrong. Thus it has been a long-term goal in science to characterise the functions of proteins within […]

Spliceosome catalysis: the completed puzzle

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The spliceosome is a molecular machine that plays an important role in gene expression. It cuts non-coding sequences (introns) out of messenger RNA (mRNA) precursors, and stitches together the useful coding sequences (exons). The spliceosome performs this in two steps. First, the start of an intron is recognised, cut, and joined to a specific point […]

LMB scientist wins ‘Best Technology’ prize in the 2017 Biomaker Challenge

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The LMB’s Wolfgang Schmied, in collaboration with Stéphanie Polderdijk from the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, won ‘Best Technology’ prize in the 2017 Biomaker Challenge for developing a low-cost chromatography system for protein purification. The Challenge aims to show the value of open, low-cost and DIY technologies as convening points for interactions between biologists and […]

Human wound healing is affected by the body clock

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Internal body clocks, which time the length of a day in almost all organisms, control many aspects of human physiology and activity, from when we go to bed to when we perform best mentally and physically. Most importantly, these biological circadian clocks are in every single individual cell of our bodies, not just in the brain. A new study has shown for the first time that these clocks also have a role to play in the healing of wounds, by ensuring that skin cells move quickly to the damaged area.