New role helps to strengthen the Cambridge Cluster

The life science cluster in Cambridge has grown and developed because of the willingness and the ability of organisations, individuals and companies to collaborate.

As an example of this spirit of joint working and sharing of ideas, it has been announced that Julian Rayner, newly elected Professor of Cell Biology, is to become the Director of the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research (CIMR), succeeding interim Head Professor Paul Luzio and Director Professor Gillian Griffiths.

From 1 May 2019, Professor Rayner will join the University of Cambridge from the Sanger Institute, where he was Senior Group Leader. His group focuses on understanding the cell biology of malaria parasite-red blood cell interactions, and identifying and prioritising new malaria drug and vaccine targets. He is also Director of Wellcome Genome Campus Connecting Science, a multidisciplinary training and engagement programme, which aims to enable everyone to explore genomics and its impact on research, health and society.

Julian will be the fourth Director of CIMR, housed within the Keith Peters Building (formerly the Wellcome Trust/MRC Building) on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. CIMR is a research centre which houses staff from a number of the School of Clinical Medicine’s Departments working in the areas of medical genetics, metabolic medicine and endocrinology, cell biology, infection and immunity, structural biology, developmental biology, cancer, diabetes, and inflammation.

Professor Rayner, said: “I’m honoured and excited to take over the leadership of CIMR. The Institute has played a very significant role in the Cambridge research landscape over the past twenty years, and its list of current and past group leaders includes some of the most impactful names in UK cell biology research. I’m privileged to follow in the footsteps of Professors Gillian Griffiths and Paul Luzio, and there is particular resonance in bringing parasite cell biology back to CIMR, echoing the first Director, Professor Jenny Blackwell. I look forward to working with the amazing staff to help shape the next stages in CIMR history, and building an even more diverse, inclusive, engaged and scientifically outstanding research institute.”

Patrick Maxwell, Regius Professor of Physic and Head of the School of Clinical Medicine, said “I am absolutely delighted to welcome Julian Rayner as Director of CIMR.  The Institute includes an impressive array of world-class investigators, and has been a key driver of research programs across the whole of the School.  Julian is just the right person to build on the impressive track record and exploit the extraordinary opportunities at the intersection of human disease, genomics and cell biology.”

Julian is strongly committed to public engagement, which he sees as an essential part of research, and will maintain his role with Connecting Science while at CIMR, helping to forge even stronger links between the University of Cambridge and the Wellcome Genome Campus.



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