Our research into cell division
Cancer Research UK scientists have an outstanding track record in the study of cell division and continue to lead the world in this field. In 2001, Paul Nurse and Tim Hunt received the ultimate accolade when they were awarded the 100th Nobel Prize for Medicine for their work in this area.
Cell division is the process by which new cells are produced within the body. Under normal circumstances, it is tightly controlled to ensure that only the right number of cells are produced at the right time. Importantly, loss of this control is one of the fundamental changes leading to cancer.
Our researchers are studying many aspects of cell division ranging from how the DNA in each cell is copied, through to finding out how these DNA copies are accurately separated between the two 'daughter' cells produced. A detailed understanding of this key process in normal cells provides the foundations for understanding what goes wrong in cancer cells.
Below are some of the highlights of our cell division research portfolio.
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No specific cancer type
Professor Francis Barr
Cell Growth and Division Group
Cancer Research Centre, University of Liverpool, Liverpool
Splitting up - understanding how cancer cells divide
Professor Francis Barr heads the Cell Growth and Division Group at the University of Liverpool. He is studying how cells divide to make new cells, focusing on the last step in the process of cell division, in which a single cell finally splits to create two ‘daughter’ cells. This is called cytokinesis.
Dr Julie Cooper
Telomere Biology Laboratory
London Research Institute, London
Tying up the loose ends of DNA
Dr Julie Cooper runs the Telomere Biology Laboratory at the Cancer Research UK London Research Institute. Her research focuses on 'telomeres', structures that cap the ends of chromosomes much like plastic caps on the ends of shoelaces.
Dr John Diffley
Chromosome Replication Laboratory
Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, London
Finding out how cells divide
Dr John Diffley is one of the world's leading experts in studying how cells grow and make copies of themselves. He is the Director of our London Research Institute Clare Hall Laboratories and heads the Chromosome Replication Laboratory.
Dr Anne Donaldson
Institute of Medical Sciences
University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen
Using yeast cells to understand cancer
Dr Anne Donaldson uses tiny yeast cells to understand how DNA is copied to create new cells. Cancer starts when too many new cells are produced, so studying yeast can give vital clues to how this happens.
Professor David Glover
Department of Genetics
University of Cambridge, Cambridge
Building the scaffolding for cell division
Professor David Glover is an expert in cell division - the process by which new cells are made. Over the years, he has discovered a number of important proteins that play a vital role in forming the ‘scaffolding’ that cells build in order to help them divide. He and his team are studying how these proteins work, using their knowledge to develop potential new treatments for cancer.
Prof Iain Hagan
Cell Division Group
Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, Manchester
Understanding how cells grow and divide
Professor Iain Hagan leads the Cell Division Group at our Paterson Institute for Cancer Research in Manchester. His research focuses on understanding how cells grow and divide and he has an outstanding track record in this field. Uncontrolled cell division lies at the heart of cancer development so Professor Hagan's work is critical for understanding what goes wrong in cancer cells.
Dr Tim Hunt
Cell Cycle Control Laboratory
Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, London
How do cells grow and divide?
Sir Tim Hunt joined Cancer Research UK in 1990, and the charity funded his research until he retired in 2011. His Nobel prize-winning work helped scientists to understand how cells copy themselves – a process that is at the heart of cancer, as well as being central to all life on Earth.
Prof Nic Jones
Cell Regulation Group
Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, Manchester
How do cells react to stress?
Professor Nic Jones is Director of the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research in Manchester and became Cancer Research UK's Chief Scientist in February 2011. He leads the Cell Regulation Group who study how cells respond to sudden changes in their surroundings, known as 'environmental stress'. Professor Jones also directs the Manchester Cancer Research Centre, building on the world-class research already going on in the city.
Dr Karim Labib
Cell Cycle Group
Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, Manchester
Understanding how cells divide
Dr Karim Labib works at our Paterson Institute for Cancer Research in Manchester. He and his team are studying how cells divide – copying their DNA (genetic instructions) and dividing it equally between two new ‘daughter’ cells. If the DNA is not copied and shared correctly, then cells may end up with the wrong amount. This can lead to cancer.
Prof Ron Laskey
Cancer Cell Unit
Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Cambridge
Detecting cancer by understanding how cells divide
Professor Ron Laskey is Honorary Director of the MRC Cancer Cell Unit at the Hutchison/MRC Research Centre in Cambridge. He is world-renowned for his research into understanding how DNA is copied inside cells - a fundamental process in normal and cancer cells. In July 2009, Professor Laskey was awarded the Royal Medal by the Royal Society for his pivotal contributions in this field. The results of his research are laying the foundations for developing new ways to detect cancer.
Prof Kim Nasmyth
Department of Biochemistry
University of Oxford, Oxford
Lord of the rings - studying chromosomes and cancer
Professor Kim Nasmyth heads the Biochemistry Department at the University of Oxford, and has won many prestigious scientific awards in his career. He is a world-leading expert in chromosomes - the packages of DNA found within our cells - and the proteins that control them.
Dr Paul Nurse
Cell Cycle Laboratory
Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, London
The cell cycle: the foundation of cancer
Sir Paul Nurse is a pioneering scientist studying the cell cycle – the way that cells copy themselves. He heads the Cell Cycle Laboratory at our London Research Institute, and was awarded a Nobel Prize in 2001 for his groundbreaking work in this field. Today his research continues to shape our knowledge of how cells divide, the fundamental process at the heart of cancer.
Dr Mark Petronczki
Cell Division and Aneuploidy Laboratory
Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, London
Going separate ways – understanding how cells divide
Dr Mark Petronczki leads a research group at the Clare Hall laboratories, part of our London Research Institute. He is studying the mechanisms that control how cells divide in two, ensuring that each new cell receives the correct amount of DNA – its genetic instructions. If this process goes wrong, cells may get the wrong amount of DNA, which can lead to cancer.
Prof Jonathon Pines
The Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute of Cancer and Developmental Biology
University of Cambridge, Cambridge
Investigating how cells divide
Professor Jon Pines is at the forefront of his research field, investigating the fundamental processes that control cell division and finding out how these can go out of control, leading to cancer. He is based at the Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute of Cancer and Developmental Biology in Cambridge, and has been funded by Cancer Research UK for more than 15 years.
Dr Thomas Surrey
Microtubule Cytoskeleton Laboratory
Cancer Research UK London Research Institute, London
Understanding our cells' 'skeletons'
Dr Thomas Surrey is a world-class researcher at our London Research Institute. He is studying cells’ internal ‘skeletons’ to find new clues for how to treat cancer.
Dr Nic Tapon
Apoptosis and Proliferation Control Laboratory
London Research Institute, London
Studying the balance between life and death
Dr Nic Tapon leads a research group at our London Research Institute. He is studying the genes and proteins that control the growth and death of the cells that make up our bodies. A greater understanding of these key processes will highlight ways in which they might go wrong in cancer cells.
Dr Frank Uhlmann
Chromosome Segregation Lab
London Research Institute, London
Understanding how cells divide
Dr Frank Uhlmanm leads the Chromosome Segregation Lab at our London Research Institute. He is carrying out fundamental research to understand how cells divide into two.
Prof Gareth Williams
Cancer Research UK Chromosomal Replication Research Group
Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, London
Understanding how cells divide, and improving cancer treatment and detection
Based at the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research in London, Professor Gareth Williams and his team are investigating how a group of proteins work together to allow DNA to be copied, a process called DNA replication. His research could also help to find new ways to diagnose cancers such as prostate and bladder cancer.
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