Research

The School of Biological Sciences has an international reputation for research excellence. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise 85% of our research activity was world leading, internationally excellent or internationally significant. All our departments are involved in research within the College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology.

Since the world changing discovery in 1984, by Sir Alec Jeffreys, of DNA fingerprinting, the Department of Genetics has continued to expand its research in genomes, with increasing interest in medical genetics, behavioural genetics and microbial genetics and pathogenicity.

The research interests of the Biochemistry department can be split into four broad themes: protein structure and function, gene expression, cancer, cell, molecular and developmental biology and microbial and cardiovascular diseases. The department also benefits from a number of excellent research facilities and services.

The Department of Biology is engaged in competitive research across a broad range of topics, with particular focus on neuroscience and behaviour, plant cell and molecular genetics, evolutionary biology and biodiversity.

The Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology is actively involved in the following themes: neurosciences, molecular and cellular biosciences, cardiovascular science, respiratory science and cancer.