The Cells and Tissues Theme aims at understanding tissue specification and function in health and disease. A multidisciplinary approach is therefore taken to define mechanisms that direct development and tissue maintenance and the role environmental factors play in the pathogenesis of disease.

The combination of strengths in cell and developmental biology, extracellular matrix and pericellular protease research and medically-oriented studies of widespread human diseases, from laboratory experiments through to clinical praxis, will form the basis to improve therapeutic manipulations in translational research.

Three main research groups exist within the theme:

The Theme contains three research groups: Cell Signalling and Development, Cell-Matrix Interaction and Tissue Remodelling and Physiology of the Organism. Across these interacting groups our research uses cells, human tissues and model organisms such as chicken, transgenic mice and Xenopus. Our modern facilities include the Henry Wellcome Imaging Suite and transgenic mice-holding facilities in the Biomedical Research Centre.

Close links between investigators within and across the Theme groups, and the wider Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital community, have been a major factor in attracting resources from a wide range of funding bodies, including Research Councils, the major biomedical charities and industry. We have an active postgraduate and postdoctoral research community and welcome enquiries from prospective students, postdocs and holders of externally funded Fellowships.