MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences

19/06/2025

Congratulations !

Her image “Genetic rhythms – the fingerprint of genes on the beating heart” has been shortlisted for the BHF image competition! To vote head over to post and comment the number 5.

This image was created as part of research that Soodeh conducted with in collaboration with

This image of bead-like structures was created using AI analysis of cardiac MRI scans from nearly 20,000 people. It maps how the heart moves in 3D and shows how specific gene variants affect heart function—red areas highlight the most impaired regions.

These variants are linked to cardiomyopathy, a leading cause of sudden death in young adults, often without symptoms. This research could help detect early signs of heart muscle disease in people who otherwise appear healthy.

24/04/2025

We’re delighted to announce the first winners of our newly introduced PhD Prize for outstanding theses and viva performances.  

Congratulations to Carmen Ramirez Moncayo, Paul Middleton and Sherry Cheriyamkunnel who impressed their examiners with their breadth of knowledge, analytical skills and clear scientific communication!

21/03/2025

In cooperation with , the LMS recently put on the SciArt Perspectives Showcase. The showcase brought together people with lived experience of PCOS and gestational diabetes, researchers and artists to create some incredible works. This embroidered napkin was made by

During the gestational diabetes workshop the participants were asked to create collages. This work was inspired by a researcher who made a collage of beta cells, an important part of the production of insulin.

08/03/2025

Happy International Women’s Day!

We’re proud of all the remarkable women at the LMS, from our dedicated students, to the research leaders pushing the boundaries of our knowledge and our vital support and operations staff who make it all possible!

11/02/2025

Today for International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we are highlighting Dr Helena Cochemé, pictured here as a girl and later working in the lab. Also pictured is a recreation of a figure from one of her group’s papers, made in cake.

When asked about her journey into science, Helena had this to say:

“As a child, I was an ‘all-rounder’ at school, so I went through a range of career aspirations, including a translator (I grew up speaking 3 languages), an artist (I have always loved drawing), and a chef (baking is still my favourite hobby now). Ultimately, I decided to study biology at university because of an inspirational teacher at secondary school, who encouraged me on my path as a scientist. And I still get to utilise my other skills, for instance designing figures for publications, which is an important aspect of science communication, or baking science-themed cakes for the lab, when celebrating PhD students passing their viva.”

Today, Helena leads the Redox Metabolism Group at the LMS focusing on the role of redox signalling in metabolism, disease and ageing.

11/02/2025

Today for Internation Day of Women and Girls in Science we are highlighting Dr Michelle Percharde, pictured here holding an owl as a girl to later celebrating having her own lab and group.

When asked about her journey into science, Michelle had this to say:

“As a child, growing up on a new-ish housing estate, I wanted to be a builder. I imagined if I had this job, I could go into all the half-finished houses and explore. I think that this curiosity underlied my eventual journey into science. As a student, biology offered me the opportunity to endlessly ask “why”. Now instead of exploring houses, I help people in my lab to explore the unknowns of stem cell and developmental biology: just as exciting, and much less dusty.”

Today, Michelle leads the Chromatin and Development Group at the LMS focusing on the regulation of early development.

01/10/2024

The LMS first opened its doors in 1970 under the name The Clinical Research Centre

Since then we’ve changed name and location but we remain dedicated to driving clinical research forward to benefit human health

27/09/2024

Looking ahead to this Sunday, we’re thrilled to announce that MRC Laboratory of Molecular BiologyMS.MRC Group Leader Professor Declan O’Regan has been awarded the BHF's first Chair of Cardiovascular AI at the Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London.

The £1.5M award will help Declan and his team develop new AI-based approaches to understand how ageing affects the heart, what drives diversity in human cardiovascular disease and how genes and environmental factors influence cardiac function.

We are incredibly proud to see our LMS Group Head recognised with this prestigious award.

Imperial Medicine Imperial College London Healthcare NHS Trust

For more information click the link below!

News Home / News / Professor Declan O’Regan appointed the first British Heart Foundation Chair of Cardiovascular AI Professor Declan O’Regan appointed the first British Heart Foundation Chair of Cardiovascular AI  27 September 2024   uncategorised We’re thrilled to announce that Professor D...

11/09/2024

🎉 Welcome Dr Nazma Malik!

Dr Nazma Malik has joined the LMS to lead the Metabolism in Immunity, Cancer and Aging (MICA) group!

The MICA group will look into the role of the cellular energy sensor AMPK in metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Dr Nazma Malik hopes that this work will underpin the development of clinical AMPK activators.

Follow the link below to find out more about her and her excellent research!!!

https://lms.mrc.ac.uk/introducing-dr-nazma-malik/

10/09/2024

📢: Congratulations to our MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences Imperial College London group head, Dr Karen Sarkisyan on being named as one of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) MIT Technology Review "35 Innovators Under 35" 2024! 🎉🎉

03/09/2024

Welcome Dr Lila Allou!

This week, we welcome Dr Lila Allou to the LMS to lead the Genetic Variations and Disease Group.

Lila’s group aims to unravel the molecular consequences of changes in our genome structure, called structural variants, in development and disease.

Lila joins the LMS from University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (UCL GOS ICH), where she was a Senior Research Fellow.

Find out more:

We are pleased to welcome Dr Lila Allou who joins the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) this week to lead the Genetic Variations and Disease Group. Lila’s group aims to unravel the molecular consequences of changes in our genome structure, called structural variants, in development and dise...

29/08/2024

📢 New publication! 🧬✨

New research from the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences published today in Nature Aging shows how inflammation holds the key to extending lifespan when a longevity gene called S6K1 is blocked in mice!

This discovery enhances our understanding of the pathways involved in ageing and age-related diseases and could lead to new treatment strategies.

Read the full story: https://lms.mrc.ac.uk/blocking-the-longevity-gene-s6k1-extends-lifespan-by-reducing-inflammation/

Researchers at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) have shown that blocking the longevity S6K1 extends lifespan by reducing inflammation, and not by directly influencing a dormant cellular state known as senescence. The findings deepen our understanding of the pathways involved in ageing an...