Cambridge Institute for Medical Research

Last updated
Cambridge Institute for Medical Research (CIMR)
Established1998
DirectorProfessor Julian Rayner
Location
The Keith Peters Building, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XY
Website https://www.cimr.cam.ac.uk/

The Cambridge Institute for Medical Research (CIMR) is an interdisciplinary research institute within the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine. [1] CIMR is on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, in the Keith Peters Building, a dedicated research building that it shares with the Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit. [2]

Contents

CIMR's mission is to determine the molecular mechanisms of disease in order to advance human health. [1] CIMR’s research is centered on cellular homeostasis and the diseases that occur when it is disrupted – either by inherited genetic variation or by infection. [3] Bringing together clinical scientists and fundamental biologists, CIMR has deep expertise in protein folding and quality control, membrane trafficking and organelle biology, and how these processes are disrupted in three broad disease areas: rare genetic disease, neurological disease and intracellular infections. [4] Research funding for CIMR research comes from a number of charity and government sources, including the Wellcome Trust. [5]

History

Sir David Keith Peters was head of the School of Clinical Medicine when CIMR was established in 1998. With significant funding from Wellcome and MRC, a purpose-built, seven storey building with extensive lab facilities was constructed to enable study of the molecular mechanisms of disease. Professor Jenefer Blackwell was CIMR’s first Director (1998–2002), followed by Professor Paul Luzio (2002–2012), Professor Gillian Griffiths (2012–2017), Professor Paul Luzio (Interim Head, 2017–2019), and Professor Julian Rayner (2019–). [6]

Funding

Core support has provided by the Wellcome Trust, [7] who continue support projects within the institute. [8]

Current Principal Investigators

The following individuals are currently principal investigators: [9]

Outputs and Impacts

Up to January 2023, almost 3,000 original research articles have been published featuring authors with CIMR addresses. [10] There are over 300,000 combined further citations of these papers. [3] Additional CIMR outputs and impacts include:

CIMR also has an active public engagement programme, with recent highlights including Inspiring Scientists at CIMR, a four day long hands-on programme providing experience in research and support with University applications for Year 12 students across Cambridgeshire [13] and contributions to RareFest and the Cambridge Science Festival. [14]

As the first dedicated research institute within the School of Clinical Medicine, CIMR has also provided a springboard for the establishment of further Institutes, many of which were founded by Principal Investigators working in CIMR: Hutchison/MRC Research Centre , CRUK Cambridge Institute, Institute of Metabolic Sciences, Anne McClaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine,  Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, The Cambridge Institute for Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease. [15]

Related Research Articles

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The Cambridge Biomedical Campus is the largest centre of medical research and health science in Europe. The site is located at the southern end of Hills Road in Cambridge, England.

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David Chaim Rubinsztein FRS FMedSci is the Deputy Director of the Cambridge Institute of Medical Research (CIMR), Professor of Molecular Neurogenetics at the University of Cambridge and a UK Dementia Research Institute Professor.

Sir Douglass Matthew Turnbull is Professor of Neurology at Newcastle University, an Honorary Consultant Neurologist at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and a director of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research.

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Sharon Jayne Peacock is a British microbiologist who is Professor of Public Health and Microbiology in the Department of Medicine at the University of Cambridge. Peacock also sits on Cambridge University Council.

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Professor Patrick Francis Chinnery, FRCP, FRCPath, FMedSci, is a neurologist, clinician scientist, and Wellcome Trust Principal Research Fellow based in the Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit and the University of Cambridge, where he is also Professor of Neurology and Head of the Department of Clinical Neurosciences.

References

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  2. "MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit". www.mrc-mbu.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  3. 1 2 3 Anonymous (2022-12-14). "CIMR's 2022 Institute Report". www.cimr.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  4. Anonymous (2020-05-07). "Research Strategy". www.cimr.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  5. "CIMR receives £4m Wellcome Trust award". University of Cambridge. 2006-12-01. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  6. Weibye, Hanna (2019-04-24). "Malaria expert appointed Director of Cambridge Institute of Medical Research". For staff. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  7. "Annual Review 2006" (PDF). The Wellcome Trust. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  8. "Wellcome Trust Annual Review 2009" (PDF). Wellcome Trust. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  9. "Principal Investigators". www.cimr.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  10. "Web of Science platform". Clarivate. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  11. "Centessa Pharmaceuticals". Cambridge Enterprise. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  12. "Spin-out X01 acquired by Janssen". Cambridge Enterprise. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  13. Peck, Penny (2023-03-01). "ISAC/M 2023: Inspiring Scientists at the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research and the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit". www.mrc-mbu.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  14. Anonymous (2021-03-16). "CIMR researchers featuring at the 2021 Cambridge Festival". www.cimr.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  15. "Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science". Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science. Retrieved 2023-11-28.