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School of the Biological Sciences

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The Department of Biochemistry is a world-leading biochemical research and education facility, building on the University's tradition of scientific enquiry to enable and support outstanding science.

They are based in the centre of Cambridge across both the Hopkins building on Downing Site, and the Sanger building on Old Addenbrookes site. Their excellent undergraduate and postgraduate education programmes develop the next generation of scientists, whilst over 40 research groups led by investigators of international standing collaborate with colleagues around the world to answer fundamental questions on how tissues, cells and their constituent molecules work, how their evolution contributes to the diversity of life, and how change or disruption can cause new phenotypes including disease.

The focus of their scientific investigation can broadly be broken down into nine research areas: Chemical Biology & Drug Design, Disease Biology, DNA & Chromatin Biology, Molecular Microbiology, Plant Biochemistry & Bioenergy, RNA Biology, Signalling & Trafficking, Stem Cell Biology, and Systems Biology, with many of their researchers spanning multiple areas. To support our world-leading biochemical research and education programmes, the Department of Biochemistry houses state-of-the-art core facilities, including cryo-electron microscopy, NMR spectroscopy, crystallography, biophysics, mass spectrometry, protein chemistry, metabolomics, and advanced services for protein and nucleic acid sequencing.

Learn more about the Department of Biochemistry.

Wider Impact

Revolutionising drug discovery

Learn how Cambridge and its partners make a positive impact around the world.

Head of Department:

Professor Eric Miska


Departmental Administrator:

Dr Katherine Wallington (interim)