Research
Research at the department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology (IMBIM) broadly spans the areas of biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, tumour biology, comparative genetics, functional genomics, immunology, bacteriology, and virology. The research is essentially basic, but with relevance and application in health and disease in both animals and humans.
Are you a student interested in research, do not hesitate to contact our group leaders for a project to perform an individual project course.
IMBIM also harbours Uppsala Antibiotic Center (UAC) Uppsala Zoonosis Center (ZSC) and parts of the SciLabLab bioinformatics platform.
Cancer
The area of protein chemistry focuses on protein folding, interaction, and how enzymes function. Research in molecular cell and tumour biology focuses on mechanisms that regulate cell growth, survival and differentiation and how insufficient control can lead to cancer development. The glycobiology section studies the structure, synthesis and function of proteoglycans during normal development and in various pathological conditions. The research also includes communication with surrounding tissues, including inflammatory processes and the ability of tumour cells to escape the immune system, regulate vasculature and metastasis.
Infections and immunity
Research in bacteriology concerns how bacteria can adapt to changes in the environment, such as the presence of antibiotics, and how bacteria interact with the infected tissue. Within the field of virology, the aim is to understand how virus can take command of cellular processes and evade the antiviral activities of the infected cell. The immunology section focuses on the function of mast cells in allergic reactions, but also for other pathological conditions. Immunological research also studies the importance of antigen-specific antibodies in basic immune regulation, autoimmune diseases and allergies.
Genetics and genomics
Comparative genetics and functional genomics have as overall objectives to explain how genetic variation can explained biological patterns in health and disease. Different animal models (e.g. hens, pigs, dogs, horses, fish and bees) are used to compare evolution and inheritance of traits and diseases. Prediction of risk factors and future evolutionary events are studies using computational genomics.