Research Groups

Group Leaders

The Babraham Institute’s research focuses on understanding fundamental biology and its role in healthy ageing and disease. Our research groups form three strategic research programmes; Epigenetics, Signalling and Immunology. You can discover more about all our research groups below, and the list includes honorary group leaders and associate group leaders affiliated with a specific research programme. In addition, the Institute operates several scientific facilities. Each facility employs a specialist team with skills and expertise in key cutting-edge research techniques.

 

Maria Christophorou

Christophorou lab image

How mechanisms that modulate the function of epigenetic regulators are perturbed in disease and how they may be targeted for therapeutic effect. Epigenetics

 

 

Simon Cook

The role of protein kinases in cellular responses to growth factors, nutrient availability or stress and damage. Signalling

 

 

Anne Corcoran

Understanding the role of chromatin and nuclear organisation in controlling gene expression during the development of the immune system. Associate group leader hosted by Immunology

 

 

Della David

David

Understand the molecular basis of ageing by focusing on protein aggregation - a pathological adaptation to ageing. Signalling

 

 

Yiliang Ding

Yiliang-Ding-summary

The role of RNA structure in gene regulation with a focus on understanding the dynamics of RNA structure in living cells. Honorary group leader in Immunology

 

 

Oliver Florey

The role of autophagy and other cellular ‘eating’ processes in normal biology and during ageing or disease. Signalling

 

 

Phill Hawkins

The molecular mechanisms and physiological significance of signalling networks involving phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks). Signalling

 

 

Jon Houseley

The mechanisms by which cells learn to adapt and thrive in new environments. Epigenetics

 

 

Martin Howard

Howard

Using mathematical modelling to rationalise complex biological dynamics into simple underlying mechanisms. Honorary group leader in Epigenetics

 

 

Gavin Kelsey

The epigenetics of the egg and sperm and their role in carrying information between generations. Epigenetics

 

 

Nicholas Ktistakis

How autophagy contributes to health and healthy ageing by eliminating damage and recycling cell components. Signalling

 

 

Michelle Linterman

Understanding the changes that occur in T cells with age that contribute to the age-dependent decline in the germinal centre response. Immunology

 

 

Adrian Liston

The role of regulatory T cells in controlling and suppressing the immune system and the effect of age on these cells. Honorary group leader in Immunology

 

 

Ian McGough

McGough

How signalling pathways change in ageing organs and how such changes affect organ function. Signalling

 

 

Kathy Niakan

Trophoblast

Investigating the mechanisms that direct ‘cell fate’ in human embryos and stem cells. Honorary group leader in Epigenetics

 

 

Valerie O'Donnell

O'Donnell

The study of bioactive lipids in circulating blood cells, particularly platelets. Honorary group leader in Signalling

 

 

Teresa Rayon

Rayon research image

How regulatory and dynamic processes control timing in development and homeostasis. Epigenetics and Signalling

 

 

Wolf Reik

The role of epigenetics in cell identity and factors involved in the process of epigenetic reprogramming. Honorary group leader in Epigenetics

 

 

Claudia Ribeiro de Almeida

The molecular mechanisms underlying diversification of antibody genes by B cells in the immune system. Immunology

 

 

Arianne Richard

Arianne Richard research image

How T cells sense and integrate information from both infection and the physiological environment to generate appropriate immune responses. Immunology

 

 

Peter Rugg-Gunn

Cell images

The epigenome in stem cells and development, and how epigenetics changes through the life course. Epigenetics

 

 

Rahul Samant

Samant sections

Investigating the plasticity of protein clearance pathways in young, aged, and diseased cells. Signalling

 

 

Hayley Sharpe

Sharpe sections

Understanding how the cells that make up our tissues and organs communicate. Signalling

 

 

Len Stephens

The molecular mechanisms and physiological significance of signalling networks involving phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks). Signalling

 

 

Kai-Michael Toellner

Kai Toellner research image

Studying how lymphocytes respond to vaccination or infection, including the mechanisms of antibody protection, auto-immunity and changes to these mechanisms with age. Immunology.

 

 

Sophie Trefely

Trefely

Providing fundamental insights into the role of nuclear metabolism in ageing and metabolic syndrome. Signalling/Epigenetics

 

 

Martin Turner

Gene expression and the roles of RNAs in the development and function of lymphocytes. Immunology

 

 

Philipp Voigt

Voigt

Understanding the molecular mechanisms that control the accurate and timely expression of genes during development. Epigenetics

 

 

Heidi Welch

Control of cell shape, movement, gene expression and other factors by Rac-GEF proteins. Associate group leader hosted by Signalling