Microscopy image of human fetal lung explant shows birfurcating tips (red) and airway smooth muscle actin (cyan); by John Russell (Rawlins lab)

Human fetal lung tissue undergoes branching morphogenesis ex vivo, by John Russell (Rawlins lab)

Studying development to understand disease

The Gurdon Institute is a world-leading centre for research at the interface between developmental biology and cancer biology

Latest news & publications

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Rawlins group_Human fetal lung tissue staining image showing alveolar development

Publication – Rawlins

Novel human lung organoids to study development and disease

Building the human lung

December 8, 2022

Rawlins group_Human fetal lung tissue staining image describing a signalling niche for airway development

Publication – Rawlins

Human fetal lung cell atlas released

December 8, 2022

A layer of Drosophila cells with nucleus marked red and mitochondria marked green. Image Klunicka et al, Ma Lab.

Publication – Ma

Identifying the molecular machinery for mitochondrial genome maintenance

November 10, 2022

News – Rawlins

Rawlins lab shares in £8 million award for lung research

October 10, 2022

About us

Our mission is to understand the fundamental mechanisms of normal development, to determine how these mechanisms are subverted in cancer and other diseases, and to use this knowledge to develop new therapies.

The Institute is embedded within the University of Cambridge, with superb infrastructure core-funded by Wellcome and Cancer Research UK. Our location facilitates interactions across the University as well as with the vibrant technical hub of Silicon Fen.

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From cell biology to tissue mechanics

Our 18 research groups address mechanisms that underlie development and disease through work in humans, model organisms, organoids and cell systems. We employ state-of-the-art technologies such as super-resolution imaging, single-cell analyses, genome engineering, genomics and computer modelling.

Research areas

Our people

The Institute is a thriving and diverse community where everyone’s contribution is important to achieving our goals.

Our group leaders, many of whom have collected numerous international awards, make important discoveries and seminal contributions in their field. We train postgraduates and postdocs, and are proud that our alumni include over 220 new group leaders pursuing exciting science around the world.

Many of our core support staff, from technical to administrative roles, have been with us for over a decade and the whole team is as committed as our researchers to their work.

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Public engagement

The Gurdon Institute is committed to making our fundamental biological research accessible and responsive to the public for the mutual benefits of inspiration, knowledge exchange and trust.

The Institute was granted a Silver Engage Watermark award from the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE), recognising our strategic support for Public Engagement and our continued commitment to innovate and develop our programme and further embed public engagement in our research culture.

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