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

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
A heart made of pink and white dots centered on a black canvas, surrounded by colorful dot-filled segments radiating outwards.
LMB News
Creative hobbies abound at the LMB Arts and Crafts Show
Ivana Bukvin
LMB News
Ivana Bukvin joins the LMB’s PNAC Division as new Group Leader
Autophagosome-mediated degradation of adenovirus, with LC3 (green), adenovirus (magenta), and TRIM21 (cyan) visualised in 3D.
Insight on Research
TRIM21 induces autophagy to defend against cell-invading pathogens
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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 20 / 07 / 2026
From the discovery of DNA deamination (2002) to an unexpected mutational synergy in cancer development and progression (present) Reuben Harris, HHMI and Dept of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas San Antonio Health Sciences Center
divisional seminar 20 / 07 / 2026
Decoding Brain-Driven Vocal Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease: mechanistic insights from animal models Julie E. Miller, University of Arizona
other seminar 21 / 07 / 2026
New Technologies and Building Successful Biotechnology Companies to Treat Disease Harvey Lodish, MIT
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
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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

Distinct receptors for a promiscuous RFamide neuropeptide co-regulate a distributed circuit for locomotory arousal in C. elegans. (18th Jul 2026)De Fruyt N, Chudinova A, Thapliyal S, Geens E, Roy C, Vandewyer E, Van Damme S, Mergan L, Beets IGenetics • doi: 10.1093/genetics/iyag188
CD33 and clusterin interact biophysically and genetically to modulate Alzheimer risk. (17th Jul 2026)Dodd RB, Enomoto M, Zhou Y, Satoh K, Zhang Y, Chen F, Acheson B, Ghaffari D, Sayn-Wittgenstein E, Manning JJ, Dukas GV, Patel R, Burguete AS, Kralovec MJ, Rashid M, Hall JL, Tamucci KA, Chatila Z, Liu M, Lee AJ, Vardarajan BN, Taga MF, Pollari S, Rabinovitch A, Rillahan CD, Bobkov AA, Sergienko E, Meadows W, Qamar S, Randle SJ, Johnson CM, Sevalle J, Griffin J, Bohm C, Ikura M, Xian X, Herz J, Kelly MA, West J, Satapathy S, Wilson MR, Javitch JA, Fraser PE, Bennett DA, De Jager PL, Fishelson Z, Frenkel D, Asher WB, Bradshaw EM, George-Hyslop PSNat Commun • doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-75140-3
The central pore of HIV-1 capsomers promotes sustained stability of the viral capsid. (16th Jul 2026)Kleinpeter AB, Mallery DL, Albecka A, Burdick RC, Renner N, Klarhof JO, Vamos B, Pathak VK, James LC, Freed EOJ Mol Biol • 169950 • doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2026.169950
CT Versus Ultrasound in Young Women With Right Iliac Fossa Pain: A Single-Centre Retrospective Study. (12th Jul 2026)Pathak A, Jiang X, Jaworski JJ, Shams M, Pearce PANZ J Surg • doi: 10.1111/ans.70854
Privateer for UCSF ChimeraX: Carbohydrate structure validation and visualization.Holland L, Dialpuri JS, Schofield LC, Pham PT, Wang S, Cook W, Croll TI, Agirre JProtein Sci • 35(8):e70716 • doi: 10.1002/pro.70716
The Pick fold in tau filaments from human MAPT mutants. (8th Jul 2026)Qi C, Lövestam S, Shi J, Murzin AG, Peak-Chew S, Warner TT, Seelaar H, Cullinane PW, Jaunmuktane Z, van Swieten JC, Scheres SHW, Goedert MActa Neuropathol • 152(1) • doi: 10.1007/s00401-026-03049-8
TRIM21 induces selective autophagy of viruses and bacteria. (8th Jul 2026)Rhinesmith T, Albecka A, James LCAutophagy • doi: 10.1080/15548627.2026.2701600
ILC2s regulate a fibroblast progenitor niche in the pancreas. (2nd Jul 2026)Yip T, Stockis J, Simpson C, McCartney EE, Raghunathan S, Rangel-Sosa MM, Hummel SN, Moreno-Vicente J, Raddi G, Garcia C, Linkute R, Pinaud S, Cheng MF, Hill LA, Underhill TM, Rodewald HR, Schneider C, Jørgensen C, McKenzie ANJ, Acton SE, Seale P, Clatworthy MR, Buechler MB, Halim TYFScience • 393(6806):eaea5113 • doi: 10.1126/science.aea5113
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