What we do
The Department of Biochemistry is dedicated to understanding biological processes at the molecular level. We research how these processes drive cellular and organismal organisation and behaviour.
The department fosters both basic science and its application to medicine. Our researchers apply their expertise to biological systems ranging from microbes, through animal cells, tissues, and whole organisms.
We work across disciplinary boundaries in an environment that actively facilitates collaborative science. Our department provide shared access to state-of-the art infrastructure and cutting-edge technologies to facilitate our world-class research. The department also develops new technologies necessary to achieve our research goals.
Latest discoveries
                                
        Epigenetic Inheritance - but short of short RNAs!
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        Epigenetic Inheritance - but short of short RNAs!
                                
        Cancer beats the clock
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        Cancer beats the clock
                                
        Pancreatic cancer immune map provides clues for precision treatment targeting
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        Pancreatic cancer immune map provides clues for precision treatment targeting
                                
        Identifying fake Covid-19 vaccines by analysing vial labels and vaccine liquids
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        Identifying fake Covid-19 vaccines by analysing vial labels and vaccine liquids
                                
        DNA origami: a new frontier in epigenetic inheritance across generations
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        DNA origami: a new frontier in epigenetic inheritance across generations
                                
        Novel method to detect fake vaccines using mass spectrometry
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        Novel method to detect fake vaccines using mass spectrometry
                                
        How do naturally occurring antibodies recognise the malaria vaccine candidate PfRH5?
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        How do naturally occurring antibodies recognise the malaria vaccine candidate PfRH5?
                                
        Novel techniques to screen for contaminants in medicinal syrups which have recently led to the death of hundreds of children
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        Novel techniques to screen for contaminants in medicinal syrups which have recently led to the death of hundreds of children
                                
        Immune cells hunt down cancer around the body – discovery could lead to personalised treatments for advanced breast cancer
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        Immune cells hunt down cancer around the body – discovery could lead to personalised treatments for advanced breast cancer
                                
        Research in mice identifies surprising consequences of a disturbed gut microbiome
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        Research in mice identifies surprising consequences of a disturbed gut microbiome
                                
        Visualising how a malaria parasite invades human red blood cells
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        Visualising how a malaria parasite invades human red blood cells
                                
        COVID Moonshot initiative identifies novel antiviral compound
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        COVID Moonshot initiative identifies novel antiviral compound
We widen the scope of biochemistry
Sharing biochemistry
                                
        Elspeth Garman talks about the life of Sir John Kendrew
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        Elspeth Garman talks about the life of Sir John Kendrew
                                
        International Women’s Day: Biochemistry celebrates “Women in Science” at the History of Science Museum
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        International Women’s Day: Biochemistry celebrates “Women in Science” at the History of Science Museum
                                
        Oxford Brookes Science Bazaar 2023
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        Oxford Brookes Science Bazaar 2023
                                
        Oxford Science Festival Biochemistry Stalls at the Westgate Centre and Oxford Town Hall
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        Oxford Science Festival Biochemistry Stalls at the Westgate Centre and Oxford Town Hall
                                
        Visit to Biochemistry Department of U-Talent high school students from the Netherlands
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        Visit to Biochemistry Department of U-Talent high school students from the Netherlands
                                
        Biochemistry Department at 'IF', the 2018 Oxford Science Festival, 12-14th October 2018
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        Biochemistry Department at 'IF', the 2018 Oxford Science Festival, 12-14th October 2018
                                
        "The Bacterial World" at the Oxford Natural History Museum
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        "The Bacterial World" at the Oxford Natural History Museum
                                
        Professor Matt Higgins and Group at Royal Society Summer Exhibition
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        Professor Matt Higgins and Group at Royal Society Summer Exhibition
                                
        Public Outreach at the Department: students enjoy work placements in the Seiradake lab
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        Public Outreach at the Department: students enjoy work placements in the Seiradake lab
                                
        UNESCO/ L'Oreal Rising Talent Award won by graduate student alumna
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        UNESCO/ L'Oreal Rising Talent Award won by graduate student alumna
                                
        A taste of biochemistry for school students
      
    
                                                                                                
    
    
            
                            
    
            
                    
        
    
                                            
        
                                                    
        
        
                            
        
        
            
        A taste of biochemistry for school students
                                
        Peter Beaconsfield Prizes for Two of Our Young Researchers