Welcome to the Institute of Cell and Molecular Science (ICMS) at Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry.

The Institute of Cell and Molecular Science was established in 2003 and aims to deliver excellence in all aspects of research, teaching and clinical service in accordance with the overall mission of the School of Medicine and Dentistry.

The specific aims of the Institute are:

• Creation of an environment for world class biomedical research which integrates basic science, clinical research and translational research activity;

• Development of innovative, interdisciplinary and cutting edge programmes of research in our core areas;

• Provision of the intellectual environment and physical facilities for high quality training of junior research staff and students;

• Development of partnerships with our neighbouring NHS Trusts, healthcare professionals and local communities in East London to build research collaborations which address the health needs of our local population.

The ICMS comprises approximately 350 staff and students based in research Centres each with focussed programmes of research which examine the cellular mechanisms of the maintenance of health, the response to injury and repair and the pathogenesis of disease. The research of the ICMS has four major themes: Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering; Infection and Immunology; Neurosciences; Genomic Medicine.

The annual research income of the institute in 2004/5 was in excess of £6.5million and major research funders include the Medical Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK and the Leukaemia Research Fund.

Post graduate programmes are an important element of the academic activity of the ICMS and we currently offer: a post-graduate Diploma in Clinical Dermatology; an MSc in Gastroenterology and an MSc and postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Microbiology. These courses have developed in response to the research teaching and training needs of individuals pursuing careers in disciplines encompassed by the Institute. Each course has a unique structure designed to best meet these needs.

In 2005 the ICMS was brought together into the new Blizard Building – part of the £45 million redevelopment of the Whitechapel campus.

This unique research building provides state of the art laboratory and office accommodation based on an innovative open plan design, a 400 seat lecture theatre, meeting rooms and core facilities in Functional Genomics, Imaging and Transgenics. The large open plan laboratories and juxtaposition of research Centres from different backgrounds provides the perfect environment for the development of interdisciplinary collaborative research.

The Blizard Building also houses a Bioscience Education Centre, the Centre of the Cell, the objective of which is to engage young people and schools in the principles of scientific and biomedical research and the background to many of the major scientific and ethical issues facing young people, educationally and socially. The practical work being done by researchers in the ICMS and elsewhere in the Medical and Dental School will be showcased therefore by this unique educational facility.