Research Overview

The Babraham Institute undertakes innovative scientific research to discover the molecular mechanisms that underlie normal cellular processes and functions, and how, over lifetime, their failure or abnormality may lead to disease. Our work is recognised as internationally competitive, and in some areas, world-leading.

Two themes are central to our research remit: cell signalling – how cells respond to cues from their external environment; and epigenetics – how the genome is regulated without change to the DNA sequence of genes. Defining how cell signalling events from conception through to adulthood can lead to long-term, epigenetic changes is a great challenge in 21st century biology.

Our research under these themes is carried out in the context of important processes in early development and of key functions of the body, particularly in the immune and nervous systems. Much of the work employs genetic models in rodents which can reveal both underlying molecular mechanisms at the cellular level and their overall impact in terms of dysfunction and disease.

You can find summary information pages on the research programmes of each of our Institute Strategic Programmes (ISPs) or more detailed information on the pages of individual research Group Leaders. Our ISPs bring together Group Leaders who share complementary approaches to address a common set of biological questions.

The Institute receives strategic funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to underpin its national responsibilities for health and well-being research but is also supported by research grants obtained from the Medical Research Council, medical charities and other organisations. Much of our research involves collaborations with the University of Cambridge, with other research institutions in the Cambridge region and with universities and organisations worldwide.

Where the knowledge generated from the Institute’s research has potential for application, our scientists work with clinicians or with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to translate the research for social and economic benefit. This process is managed by Babraham Bioscience Technologies Ltd. (BBT), the Institute’s wholly-owned trading subsidiary. The Institute forms the cornerstone of the developing Babraham Research Campus which is home to some 30 start-up and growing bioscience companies.