New tool opens the door to light driven in-cell chemistry
A team of scientists, led by Professor Ben Davis, Science Director for Next Generation Chemistry at The Franklin, and Professor Veronique Gouverneur at Oxford University have created a light-activated system that allows new side-chains to be grafted on to proteins,…
Prestigious medal awarded to Franklin theme lead
Professor Ben Davis has been awarded the Davy medal from the Royal Society. Professor Davis, of the Rosalind Franklin Institute and University of Oxford, was awarded the medal for inventing powerful chemical methods that directly manipulate complex biological molecules, enabling…
Introducing Dr Bela Paizs, Head of Molecular Structure Elucidation
At the end his first week at the Franklin, Dr Caitlin Higgott, the Franklin’s Communications Officer, interviewed Bela (in person, following social distancing rules!). They discussed what he would be doing at The Franklin and where it fits with the…
Institute celebrates Rosalind Franklin Centenary
Today marks 100 years since the birth of our namesake, Rosalind Franklin. Rosalind Franklin is a world-renowned scientist, who is now most famous for her part in discovering the structure of DNA. However, as an X-ray crystallographer, she also made great contributions to our fundamental understanding of the…
Engineered llama antibodies neutralise COVID-19 virus
Antibodies derived from llamas have been shown to neutralise the SARS-CoV-2 virus in lab tests, UK researchers announced today. The team involves researchers from the Rosalind Franklin Institute, Oxford University, Diamond Light Source and Public Health England. They hope the…
Franklin 100 News
Throughout this year, we will bring you news of our activities, and those of selected partners, to celebrate 100 years since the birth of Rosalind Franklin. Franklin Centenary Podcast Listen to our short series of podcasts on the life, work,…
UK consortium launches COVID-19 Protein Portal
Launching today, Tuesday 12th May, the COVID-19 Protein Portal allows UK scientists to access protein reagents for critical research relating to SARS-CoV-2. Protein reagents are provided free of charge by a consortium of leading protein production laboratories, in an Open Science…
Science Minister Hails Nanobody Breakthrough at Franklin
Researchers from Protein Production UK, a collaborative project led by The Rosalind Franklin Institute, have isolated nanobodies – a type of antibody used in research, which bind to the ‘spike’ protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The team have already made these…
Introducing our Head of Mechanistic Proteomics, Professor Shabaz Mohammed
On his first day at the Franklin, we sat down to discuss the work that Shabaz would be doing and why he thinks it was so important. What will you be working on at the Franklin? I will be the…
The Franklin’s COVID-19 work
During these difficult times, the research and medical communities around the world have come together to rapidly produce data on and find treatments for COVID-19. We at the Franklin are proud to be part of these extraordinary efforts. Here is…