Our research

Our research programmes are part of the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, a joint institute between Birkbeck and UCL that seeks to integrate techniques from the chemical and physical sciences to provide insight into the molecular basis of biological processes. In 2008, the Research Assessment Exercise rated 85% of our research as having international impact, with 15% receiving the highest possible rating of world-leading.

The ISMB provides a vibrant environment for interdisciplinary research and in 2010 academic staff in the department of biological sciences were in receipt of £15.5 million research grant funding.

Many of our achievements have led to greater understanding of the biological processes that lead to human disease and have potential applications in drug design. Find out more about our research programmes and our recent discoveries.