New Department of Life Sciences at Imperial

Change brings existing life science divisions closer together in new 'super-department' - News

By Danielle Reeves
19 October 2007

The start of this academic year has seen the creation of a new Department of Life Sciences at Imperial, which brings together under one umbrella the existing Divisions of Biology, Molecular Biosciences, and Cell and Molecular Biology.

It will be run by a management team from all three constituent divisions, led by Professor Ian Owens from the Division of Biology who has been appointed head of the new department. However, the three existing divisions will retain their individual identity and many aspects of day-to-day management will stay at the divisional level.

Professor Owens explains that bringing together the three divisions will encourage greater collaboration across the entire spectrum of life sciences: "For big strategic initiatives we need to be able to bring together the best teams from across all three divisions and I think this new set-up will better facilitate these kind of collaborations, whilst ensuring that the divisions retain their unique sense of identity and community."

The new department is one of Europe's largest life science research groups. Professor Owens adds: "There is some really pioneering work being done in all the divisions and this is an exciting time for life sciences at Imperial."

The Division of Molecular Biosciences, led by head of division Professor Paul Freemont, focuses on understanding at the molecular level how cells function as a system. The division's work has broad potential applications including the development of new drugs and therapeutics, and new forms of bioenergy.

Current leading-edge research underway in the division includes Professor So Iwata's lab at the Diamond Synchrotron – a Government and Wellcome Trust funded facility that allows deep insights into the complex structures of biological molecules – to carry out ground-breaking analysis of proteins from cell membranes. Professor Jim Barber's work on photosynthesis is providing the foundations for novel bioenergy research; Professor Anne Dell's research continues to be at the forefront of glycobiology and the role of sugars in cell-to-cell communication; and Professor Mike Sternberg continues to grow the College's activities in bioinformatics.

Professor Freemont said: "Fundamental research in the life sciences provides the scientific basis on which many new technologies are based including the development and discovery of new drugs. In the 21st century Life Sciences is undergoing a revolution with the increasing availability of genetic information from many different organisms and plants providing the foundations for new research areas like personalised medicine and synthetic biology.

"In collaboration with physical scientists and engineers, life sciences will undoubtedly lead the way in solving some of mankind's greatest problems in energy health and the environment. Imperial has an outstanding record of leading the field in some of these areas and through working closely together across the new Department of Life Sciences we can ensure we continue to build on the successes of recent years."

The Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, led by Professor Murray Selkirk, focuses on cell biology, with particular interests in neurosciences, the immune system and infectious diseases.

His division, Professor Selkirk explains, works on fundamental science which then feeds directly into future clinical research looking for new treatments, vaccines or drugs for diseases. "Our researchers work to understand the basic biology of pathogens and use models of infection to investigate how they survive and replicate in their hosts. We are working on diseases which are of great concern both here in the UK and in the developing world, including Clostridium difficile which is becoming a notorious hospital infection, pathogenic E. coli, malaria and other parasites."

He added: "Coming together with the other two divisions in a new Department of Life Sciences will facilitate new collaborative research and encourage the free-flow of studentships between the three constituent divisions."

The Division of Biology, led jointly by Professor Martin Buck and Professor Owens, focuses on ecology and evolution, and plant and microbial sciences. The ecology and evolution part of the division incorporates the NERC Centre for Population Biology, a world leading centre for the study of biodiversity and a wide range of ecological issues.

Professor Buck explains the importance of his division's work, saying: "Not all research in the life sciences is directly about mankind – much of the work carried out by our biologists is all about understanding the broader context of the world in which we live, from the molecular level up to the study of the impact of environmental changes at a global scale. At a time when there are more questions being asked than ever before about the natural environment and our impact on it, the division’s work is vital to further our understanding of these complex relationships."

Commenting on the creation of the new Department of Life Sciences, Professor Buck added: "There are already many examples of teams from across the three life sciences divisions working together. This new department structure will further enable research and teaching in the life sciences at the College to be very much a continuum, with students able to move into important new areas such as systems biology and take courses from across the new department."

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