Professor Laurence Pearl

Professor Laurence Pearl is a leading expert in structural biology, studying the shapes and sizes of molecules on a microscopic scale.

In particular, Professor Pearl is looking at the structure of the cell's molecular 'repair kits' – molecules responsible for patching up DNA damage. DNA is the cell's 'instruction manual', so failure to repair damage can cause major problems, including cancer.

By understanding the precise shapes of these molecules as they repair DNA, Professor Pearl's research provides valuable information about how they work and what happens when they go wrong. As well as revealing some of the most fundamental aspects of cancer biology, this research could trigger ideas for future treatments for the disease.

You can read more about Professor Pearl’s research here.