3D colour-coded reconstruction of a fruit fly brain connectome, detailing intricate neuronal networks across distinct regions.

Discovering
how life works

This 3D rendering shows the neural connections in a fruit fly brain, which is less than 1 mm across. Read more about the rendering, Greg Jefferis’s group and the FlyWire Consortium.
Molecular model of a replisome, a multi-protein complex (colored blobs) actively replicating a DNA double helix (yellow strand).

Research that spans the breadth of biology

The MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) is a research institute dedicated to the understanding of fundamental biological processes at the levels of atoms, molecules, cells and organisms. The knowledge we provide is crucial to solving key problems in human health.

Our Science
A 3D image of the human replisome, the molecular machinery that copies our DNA, captured using electron cryomicroscopy. Discover more about the research exploring how these complexes work.

Latest News

Insight on Research
Early developmental biases shape stem cell potential
Protein structure prediction confidence for a specific region is improved when an active-state template is used.
Insight on Research
Harnessing AI to unveil hidden cell signalling pathways
Heatmap illustrating the temporal activity of multiple transcription factors, where varying shades from blue to yellow indicate activity levels.
Insight on Research
Fly cell atlas reveals hidden rules of brain development
Tarantula skin
LMB News
A catalyst for curiosity: the 2026 Microscopes 4 Schools Competition sparks students’ scientific intrigue
Five smiling people stand behind a table displaying brain models, flyers, and science-themed items at an indoor event.
LMB News
LMB scientists partner with BioClocks UK to showcase circadian rhythm research at The Big Bang Fair
Portrait photographs of Julian Sale, Emmanuel Derivery and Kelly Nguyen
LMB News
Three LMB Group Leaders elected members of EMBO
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Three women sit at a table smiling and gesturing during a discussion, with one woman's back to the viewer and notebooks on the table.

An unsurpassed environment for researchers

The LMB comprises over 50 scientific groups pursuing ambitious research, supported by cutting-edge scientific facilities and generous core-funding by the MRC/UKRI. We occupy an inspiring, purpose-built building on the thriving Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

Working at the LMB

Public Engagement

How we connect with society and inspire the next generation.

Upcoming Seminars & Events

divisional seminar 17 / 08 / 2026
Two pore domain THIK potassium channels regulate acute and chronic pain signaling / Two pore domain TWIK1 channel, a potassium channel whose pH sensitivity alters its ionic selectivity Delphine Bichet & Franck Chatelain, IPMC, Nice-Sophia Antipolis, France
lmb named seminar 07 / 09 / 2026
LMB Seminar: Title TBC Ryan Flynn
other seminar 16 / 09 / 2026
Next Generation Biophysics Symposium 2026 – Pre-registration required TBC
divisional seminar 17 / 09 / 2026
Learning about learning through the worm Yee Lian Chew, Associate Professor in Physiology, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
divisional seminar 22 / 09 / 2026
Mechanistic insights into aggrephagy initiation and Tau aggregate clearance Bernd Bauer, University of Vienna
divisional seminar 13 / 10 / 2026
Molecular Systems Biology Kiran Patil
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Fluorescent micrograph of a neuronal cell body with numerous radiating filamentous processes.

Progressing science for over 60 years

Since our origins in 1947, the LMB has pioneered the molecular biology revolution and is a world-leading source of new ideas, scientific advances and technology. Our discoveries have led to highly successful commercialisations and medical advances that have improved human life.

Explore Our History Timeline
An axon bundle growing from a human brain organoid within a micropatterned device. Read more about research into axon growth and human brain development. 

Latest Publications

Artificial intelligence in drug discovery – what it is, where we stand and the path forward. (7th Aug 2026)Bender A, Thomas MC, Scannell JW, Shaywitz DA, Ghiandoni GM, Greener JG, Pruteanu LL, Jacobson RD, Handa K, Hirano M, Seal S, Mahale M, Schmidt MF, Ahfeldt T, Grisoni F, Cortes-Ciriano INat Rev Drug Discov • doi: 10.1038/s41573-026-01496-2
Reversible epiblast regionalization determines differentiation potential of human pluripotent stem cells. (7th Aug 2026)Sutcliffe MA, Wong E, Wingett SW, Morris CAJ, Stachelscheid H, Schoenfelder S, Lancaster MANat Biotechnol • doi: 10.1038/s41587-026-03254-6
Polymerase ι promotes C>T substitutions in smoking models and in the platinum chemotherapy-induced SBS31 mutation signature. (11th Aug 2026)Engel B, Szikriszt B, Gyüre Z, Sale JE, Szüts D, Németh EProc Natl Acad Sci U S A • 123(32):e2526551123 • doi: 10.1073/pnas.2526551123
NeuroSuite for Long-Term Functional and Structural Studies of Air-Liquid Interface Cerebral Organoids. (6th Aug 2026)Haider B, Middya S, Lloyd-Davies-Sánchez DJ, Läubli NF, Vora S, Träuble J, Krajeski RN, Feng Y, Duncko D, Riley JS, Ruiz-Mateos Serrano R, Paulsen O, Lancaster MA, Malliaras GG, Kaminski Schierle GSAdv Sci (Weinh) • e19893 • doi: 10.1002/advs.202519893
Hippocampal CA3 connectomics reveals a gradient of mossy fiber inputs and selective feedforward inhibition onto pyramidal cells. (5th Aug 2026)Zheng Z, Park C, Hammerschmith EW, Lu R, Yu SC, Sorek M, Silverman B, Jordan CS, Sterling AR, Silversmith WM, Schlegel P, Jefferis GSXE, Collman F, Seung HS, Tank DWNat Neurosci • doi: 10.1038/s41593-026-02388-9
Crystal structure of a closed ternary complex of a HNA Reverse Transcriptase in complex with a HNA/DNA duplex.Gutfreund C, Abramov M, Coosemans F, Holliger P, Herdewijn P, Betz K, Marx APLoS One • 21(7):e0351418 • doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0351418
Determining the molecular and physiological actions of subtype-selective nanobodies of GABA receptors. (31st Jul 2026)Gonzalez-Prada JE, Liu S, Shang C, Chernoff CS, Bright DP, Mortensen M, Jones CF, Nestorow S, Kasaragod VB, Chen WN, Hannan S, Zhou J, Dunn AWE, Soltani A, Turner RJ, Duggan NM, Yuan Y, Wahid AA, Hardwick SW, Scott S, Chirgadze DY, Pardon E, Steyaert J, Aricescu AR, Paulsen O, Belin D, Smart TG, Miller PSSci Adv • 12(31):eaeg3548 • doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aeg3548
Where next for structural bioinformatics?Greener JGPLoS Biol • 24(7):e3003903 • doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3003903
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