Archived News Articles from 2014

Outstanding departmental research recognised in REF 2014
The Department of Biochemistry has contributed to the largest volume of world-leading and internationally excellent research in the REF 2014 exercise, as announced today.
Published: 18 December 2014

 

Closing the cohesin ring round sister chromatids
A new study completes the structural and functional picture of the cohesin ring that traps DNA during mitosis until the critical moment of cell division
Published: 12 December 2014

 

Balancing diversity with conservation - learning tricks from malaria parasite proteins
A new study sheds light on how the malaria parasite can evade the bodys defences whilst retaining the ability to interact with and thrive in its host
Published: 9 December 2014

 

Department marks 50+5 anniversary
The Department has celebrated 5 years of occupancy of the New Biochemistry Building alongside the 50th anniversary of the Oxford University Biochemical Society (OUBS)
Published: 4 December 2014

 

Seminar encourages students to go for summer placements
Biochemistry undergraduates heard first hand about the experience of doing a summer placement at a special seminar last week
Published: 26 November 2014

 

New research shows how bacteria sense magnetic field polarity
A recent paper provides evidence for a direct link between two bacterial navigation mechanisms - one sensing magnetic field and the other oxygen concentration
Published: 19 November 2014

 

Oxford iGEM team wins Gold Medal at Boston Giant Jamboree
The first iGEM team from the University of Oxford has returned home from the iGEM Giant Jamboree 2014 in Boston with a gold medal
Published: 11 November 2014

 

JBC's 'Paper of the Week' from the Berks' group
A recent paper from Professor Ben Berks' group has been selected as 'Paper of the Week' in the Journal of Biological Chemistry
Published: 7 November 2014

 

Lynne Cox receives award for ageing research from the Glenn Foundation
Professor Lynne Cox was presented with an award from the US-based Glenn Foundation for Medical Research at an event at the House of Lords on October 27th.
Published: 28 October 2014

 

Careers talk highlights the challenges and rewards of academia
The first Careers Talk organized jointly by the University Careers Service and the Department attracted over 60 people on October 1st
Published: 7 October 2014

 

Elspeth Garman on 'The Life Scientific'
Elspeth Garman will feature on Radio 4's 'The Life Scientific' on Tuesday 7 October at 9am talking to Jim Al-Khalili about her life and work.
Published: 3 October 2014

 

Welcome to our two new group leaders
Two new group leaders join the Department today, Alfredo Castello and Elena Seiradake
Published: 1 October 2014

 

Double success for Rob Klose
Following on from his recent Royal Society award, Rob Klose has received two further honours in recognition of his work. He has been made a Full Professor, and now becomes Professor of Cell and Molecular Biology
Published: 1 October 2014

 

Latest Publications
Read about some of the latest publications to come from the Department.
Published: 24 September 2014

 

Alison Woollard takes the CHRISTMAS LECTURES to the Far East
Alison Woollard travelled East this Summer to entertain youngsters with her 'Life Fantastic' lectures
Published: 16 September 2014

 

New ways to connect proteins and study their plasticity
Two recent papers from Mark Howarth, Michael Fairhead and colleagues describe how they have exploited one of the most widely used tools in biomedical research.
Published: 2 September 2014

 

Hans Krebs Tower demolition underway
The start of the demolition of the Hans Krebs Tower has been marked by a ceremony on August 18th.
Published: 21 August 2014

 

Anthony Watts wins prestigious BPS award
Professor Anthony Watts is to receive the 2015 Anatrace Membrane Protein Award of the Biophysical Society.
Published: 21 August 2014

 

Malarial invasion protein yields structural clues for vaccine development
A group of Oxford researchers has revealed promising new findings about a protein necessary for invasion of red blood cells by malarial parasites.
Published: 20 August 2014

 

Rob Klose wins prestigious Royal Society award
Rob Klose has been awarded the 2015 Francis Crick Lecture for his work on understanding how chromatin-based and epigenetic processes contribute to gene regulation
Published: 5 August 2014

 

Latest Publications
Read about some of the latest publications to come from the Department
Published: 29 July 2014

 

Women in Science news
The recent talk by Columbia University's Professor Ann McDermott was an opportunity to hear not only about her outstanding research but also her experiences as a woman in science.
Published: 23 July 2014

 

New method allows researchers to explore how fibrillin is assembled
Researchers in the department have shed light on the early stages of assembly of fibrillin into microfibrils, a major component of the elastic tissue of animals.
Published: 23 July 2014

 

Malarial proteins probed in new study
A recent paper by Associate Professor John Vakonakis provides insight into the damaging changes to red blood cells that are characteristic of malarial infection.
Published: 22 July 2014

 

Glycolipid modeling wins student inaugural prize
DPhil student David Shorthouse has won the SCI Young Lipid Scientist Award for his work on glycolipids.
Published: 9 July 2014

 

Faulty endoplasmic reticulum structure underlies human neurological disorder
A detailed scrutinisation of a neurodevelopmental disorder by researchers in the Department has revealed how the genetic defects interfere with a fundamental cell biological process
Published: 7 July 2014

 

London alumni event showcases Department's achievements
Alumni and current members gathered at the Royal Society for the department's fourth alumni event
Published: 4 July 2014

 

Rob Klose is Abcam's Scientist of the Month
Rob Klose and his work feature this month on the Abcam website.
Published: 4 July 2014

 

Elspeth Garman gives Rose Lecture at Kingston University
Professor Elspeth Garman receives award recognising eminent women scientists
Published: 2 July 2014

 

Latest Publications
Some of the latest publications to come from the Department are listed here
Published: 26 June 2014

 

Former Biochemistry student publishes book on a forgotten pioneer in crystallography
A new book by Kersten Hall revives X-ray crystallographer William T. Astbury
Published: 26 June 2014

 

Simulations contribute to study on critical bacterial outer membrane protein
Work by Dr Phillip Stansfeld in Professor Mark Sansom's lab has helped to reveal how bacteria construct a barrier against harmful compounds
Published: 20 June 2014

 

Polycomb discoveries mark new way of thinking in the field
A major discovery from two groups in the Biochemistry Department could flip the understanding of a key developmental gene regulatory system on its head.
Published: 18 June 2014

 

Biochemistry students lead first Oxford University team in iGEM competition
A group of students from Oxford University will compete for the first time in the iGEM (international Genetically Engineered Machine) competition.
Published: 17 June 2014

 

Biochemistry lecturers excel in teaching awards
Biochemistry lecturers have done exceptionally well in the recent Oxford University Student Union (OUSU) Teaching Awards
Published: 6 June 2014

 

Graduate Poster Symposium 2014
The Department celebrated the research achievements of its final year graduate students at a poster symposium on May 14
Published: 23 May 2014

 

Inaugural Louise Johnson Memorial Lecture held
The Department was delighted to welcome Professor Sir Tom Blundell to give the Inaugural Louise Johnson Memorial Lecture on May 1st
Published: 23 May 2014

 

Notch receptor comes under scrutiny in new study
A study has revealed for the first time molecular details of a receptor which is part of a signalling pathway crucial to many fundamental biological processes
Published: 23 May 2014

 

Latest Publications
Some of the latest publications to come from the Department in March and April are listed here
Published: 14 May 2014

 

Shabaz Mohammed wins RSC Prize
Dr Shabaz Mohammed has been awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry's Joseph Black Award 2014
Published: 7 May 2014

 

New doctoral training programme in biomedical imaging launched
Applications are now open for a new doctoral training programme in biomedical imaging
Published: 6 May 2014

 

Biochemistry student takes runner up prize in FameLab UK Final
Jonny Brooks-Bartlett enjoys success at the FameLab 2014 UK final
Published: 25 April 2014

 

New funding to explore the twists and turns of DNA
Professor David Sherratt is part of an exciting interdisciplinary research team aiming to explore how knots and links are removed from DNA
Published: 23 April 2014

 

Professor Iain Campbell
Mark Sansom remembers Iain Campbell, who passed away in March, in an obituary in Structure
Published: 16 April 2014

 

Latest Publications
Some of the latest publications to come from the Department are listed here
Published: 2 April 2014

 

New tentacle method captures tumour cells with increased efficiency
The development of an improved 'superglue' technology by Dr Mark Howarth and his group could help in cell capture approaches aimed at detecting and treating cancer
Published: 31 March 2014

 

'A Case of Crystal Clarity' animation launched with researchers' input
Professor Elspeth Garman and her DPhil student Jonny Brooks-Bartlett have joined up with Oxford Sparks to create a new animation about X-ray crystallography
Published: 31 March 2014

 

Review celebrates achievements and future developments in X-ray crystallography
Professor Elspeth Garman's invited review in a recent special issue of Science charts the history of X-ray crystallography and looks forward to how challenges may be overcome by current and future developments
Published: 20 March 2014

 

Nitrate transporter structure paves the way for exciting new areas of work
The elucidation of the structure of a key nitrate transporter in plants has revealed details that will help us understand how a family of physiologically important transporters in plants and humans work
Published: 14 March 2014

 

Professor Iain Campbell
It is with considerable sadness that we announce the death of Professor Iain Campbell FRS, on 5th March 2014
Published: 11 March 2014

 

Trypanosomes yield their secrets in new study on chromosome segregation
Trypanosomes appear to use a completely novel set of proteins to ensure the correct separation of their chromosomes during cell division. This is the finding of research from Dr Bungo Akiyoshi, a Sir Henry Dale Fellow in the department, together with Professor Keith Gull in the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology
Published: 28 February 2014

 

Knowledge and skills exchange stimulated by new BBSRC-funded programme
A project which provides an opportunity for academia and industry to exchange ideas is about to get underway thanks to funding secured by University Lecturer Dr Phil Biggin.
Published: 10 February 2014

 

Autoimmune disease link to lipid defect suggests new therapeutic strategy
Collaborative work between the Glycobiology Institute and researchers at University College and Imperial College in London has identified a molecular defect in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that could have an impact on their treatment
Published: 7 February 2014

 

Elspeth Garman talking at the Museum of the History of Science
Don't miss Elspeth Garman's talk on crystallography at the Museum of the History of Science on Tuesday 21 January at 7pm. "Mission Impossible: the crystallographic challenge of tuberculosis" will uncover the history and outcome of efforts to produce crystals of a tuberculosis protein whose structure, once revealed, could help in the discovery of new drugs.
Published: 20 January 2014

 

Biochemistry student wins place in FameLab finals
A set of cardboard cut-out waves has helped DPhil student Jonny Brooks-Bartlett land a place in the National Finals of FameLab, the quick-paced science communication competition.
Published: 13 January 2014

 

Novel structure may hold the key to DNA break repair
Super-resolution microscopy has allowed researchers in the department to visualise a process for the first time that appears to play a central role in DNA repair. Professor David Sherratt, postdoc Dr Christian Lesterlin and microscopy experts Drs Lothar Schermelleh and Graeme Ball have published their findings in Nature
Published: 3 January 2014