Contact Details

Division of Structural Biology,
Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine,
Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK

Telephone: (+44) (0)1865 287783
E-mail: robert@strubi.ox.ac.uk

Research Areas

The study of biology attempts to develop a detailed understanding of the processes of life at all levels from molecules to organisms. The advent of genomic-scale science now offers the promise of a knowledge of all molecules in living systems and created the expectation that this level of knowledge can be extended to include molecular structure, function, processes and even the systems biology of complete cells. Computation has become an indispensable tool in biology by providing a controlled environment for developing and testing hypotheses. My research interests have moved from a background in chemistry and computation to structural biology and structural bioinformatics. Research interests range from methods development in bioinformatics (disorder prediction with RONN, genome wide annotation with structural data) through protein production and data tracking (laboratory information management systems, LIMS) and structure determination to structure analysis and display.

As well has providing and maintaining the IT platform for the whole Division, I am collaborating on the development of an information management system for protein science, the Protein Information Management System (PiMS). I act as the scientific sponsor, directing the work of a team of developers and scientists across the UK. The aim of PiMS is to develop a freely available commercial-quality LIMS appropriate to tracking of protein production data for structural biology laboratories.

On the crystallographic side, through links with the Oxford Protein Production Facility I have been coordinating a structural proteomics-type study of proteins from Bacillus anthracis. While the goal has been to provide a test-bed for development of high-throughput protein production and crystallization methiods, the structures themselves have provided significant insight into this important human pathogen.