MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London
Science for Health
What we do
Within the Research Divisions leaders of each research group initiate projects. 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.
See also
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