Randall Centre for Cell & Molecular Biophysics

Research

Our research groups address fundamental biological questions at the interface between biomedical and biophysical sciences. We develop state-of-the-art biophysical techniques and address molecular and cellular processes in biology and medicine. Many of these applications are focused on cell motility and the cytoskeleton, muscle signalling, stem cells and developmental biology, with a translational focus in allergy and asthma, cardiovascular and cancer biology.

The Centre is internationally recognised, helping us to foster cross-organisational collaborations and attract the best emerging and established talent from across the globe. We regularly secure funding from the UKRI and charities such as the BHF, CRUK and Wellcome.

We regularly secure funding from the UKRI and charities such as the BHF, CRUK and Wellcome. We also host several post-doctoral fellows who successfully apply for fellowships and have a regular stream of enquiries for independent fellowship positions. Current fellows are funded by King’s prize fellowships, BHF fellowships and equivalent. Many recent fellows have transitioned successfully to senior fellowships and permanent positions. Current and recent former Randall PIs have received the award of FRS while working at the Randall Centre.

Translational focus – Asthma & Allergy, Cardiovascular, Cancer

Asthma & Allergy
A bench to bedside approach for asthma, allergy and cancer research. We aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying allergic disease and facilitate the development of new therapies. Combining techniques in structural biology, molecular genetics and cell biology, we study the allergic response from the control of IgE antibody gene expression to the various protein-receptor interactions that mediate the physiological allergic responses. Our joint projects link the basic science with clinical research.

Some Randall staff are also members of the MRC & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma. A joint initiative with Imperial College, the Centre brings together research groups at both universities, providing common core facilities and a network of basic science and clinical collaborations across a number of London hospitals.

Cardiovascular
Muscle and heart research are traditional and strong activities in the Randall Centre, which hosts several groups pursuing fundamental research into skeletal and heart muscle contraction mechanisms and development, as well as the BHF Chair of Molecular Cardiology. The Centre has strong links to the School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences, hosting two embedded staff, and with co-appointed clinical staff in the Evelina London Children's Hospital on research into the mechanisms of heart and muscle diseases in children.

Cancer
Multidisciplinary research activity based on cell motility, cancer biology and cell imaging is strongly linked to the Translational Cancer Medicine activities of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre. We have a number of co-appointed staff and share facilities in Imaging and Computational Bioimedicine.

Cross-cutting themes – Cell Imaging

We aim to unravel the biological processes at work when molecules interact in living cells by developing and applying advanced optical imaging techniques. We use bioactive molecules in live/fixed cells, cellular organelles, tissues and whole organisms. With methods such as structured illumination (linear and non-linear) and 4Pi microscopy we aim to improve resolution, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy and single molecule imaging. The biomolecular specificity possible with optical methods has been particularly valuable in microscopy and live cell protein studies. Visualising these biological processes in the context of diseased states we hope to develop new ways of monitoring and manipulating them and help to predict drug target effects and their translation to organ and organism level physiology.

Research is funded by the MRC, BBSRC, EPSRC, The Wellcome Trust, The European Union Framework Programme, medical charities (Dimbleby Cancer Care, Cancer Research UK, Breakthrough Breast Cancer, British Heart Foundation) and industrial collaborations.