Cambridge Institute for Medical Research (CIMR). (360G-Wellcome-079895_Z_06_Z)

A major objective for CIMR over the next 5 years is to better understand protein localisation, function and metabolism in a range of diseases in which genetic studies have identified the causative genes. Underpinning our core facilities is essential to achieve this objective and will provide added value to the considerable investment that the Wellcome Trust is already making to our scientific activities. Our present scientific goals are: (i) determination of the molecular mechanisms of intracellular protein aggregate formation and breakdown in health and disease, including the identification of novel therapeutic targets for protein conformational diseases; (ii) identifying and characterising the molecular machinery of intracellular membrane traffic and determining how traffic pathways are coordinated, regulated and modified in health and disease; (iii) the identification of genes, proteins and pathways increasing susceptibility to, or protection from, autoimmune diseases; (iv) determining the transcriptional regulation of haematopoietic stem cells. Our proposal includes funding of core specialist scientific staff, annual research retreats, funds to encourage young clinicians back into research and a case for 2 PhD students per annum. We aim to make CIMR a flagship in the UK for interdisciplinary research at the interface between clinical and basic research.