Dynamic Molecular Cell Biology

Identifying disease-associated genes, mutations and perturbed expression is only the first stage towards understanding human disease and the development of therapeutics. In Bristol we aspire to understand gene function and the proteins they encode across spatial scales, from the molecular level through to functional studies in cells, tissues and organisms. Since proteins, cells and tissues are all dynamic, wherever possible these processes need to be studied through multiple timescales. Advances in spatial and temporal resolution of microscopy provide opportunities to study processes at an unprecedented level across molecular and cellular scales. Only by combining these approaches will we truly understand organismal-level health, the pathoetiology of diseases and provide rational therapeutic routes to relieve them. This relies on biologists operating at the interface between molecular and cell biology. Our Wellcome programme will recruit, support and train a new generation of PhD students in Biomedical Research, with a broad base and understanding of molecular cell biology techniques coupled with world-class expertise in their PhD topic. These students will be trained to become future leaders in a wide range of careers, founded upon a holistic and rounded personal and professional development, which incorporates the best practice in PhD training.