About NIMR
NIMR is a research institute dedicated to studying important questions about the life processes that are relevant to all aspects of health. The Institute is the largest supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC), a national organisation funded by the British taxpayer that promotes research into all areas of medical and related science to improve the health of the British public.
Although NIMR is not part of a university, it is fundamentally a collegiate organisation. Our students are registered with University College London (UCL), and all Division Heads are honorary professors at UCL.
Within the Divisions leaders of each research group initiate projects and these are conducted where there is a community of interests and many opportunities for collaboration and interaction.
Scientists at NIMR study a vast number of topics including:
- How do muscles generate force?
- How do we fight infection?
- Where do new 'flu epidemics come from?
- How does the heart form?
- Can damaged spinal nerves regenerate?
- What starts limb formation in an embryo?
- How does memory work?
- What genes control cell division?
- What kind of process creates the millions of neurones in our brains?
- How does a fertilised egg develop into so many kinds of tissues?
- How can we make a vaccine against malaria?
- How do nerves find the organs they are supposed to control?
- Which genes control sex?
Members of the Institute, including five Nobel Laureates, have contributed notably to many fields of biomedical science:
- Henry Dale discovered the important neuro-transmitter acetylcholine.
- Archer Martin invented paper and gas chromatography.
- Rodney Porter was a pioneer in understanding the chemistry of antibodies.
- John Cornforth made key discoveries in understanding how steriods are made.
- Peter Medawar discovered how transplanted organs are rejected because of attacks by white blood cells that can recognise foreign cells.
- In recent years the prestigious Jeantet prize has been awarded to three NIMR scientists for their work on sex determination, influenza and the control of haemoglobin in blood cells.