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Julian Downward is a Principal Group Leader at the Francis Crick Institute, directing the Oncogene Biology Laboratory. He has a rich academic background, having earned a bachelor's degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University before completing his PhD in biochemistry at Imperial College London, under the mentorship of Michael Waterfield. Since establishing his lab in 1989 at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, which became Cancer Research UK in 2002, his research has focused on the molecular mechanisms of oncogenic proteins, particularly the Ras family, and their implications in human tumors. Downward's laboratory has been pivotal in advancing the understanding of cellular growth regulatory proteins and the EGF receptor, contributing over 270 publications to international scientific journals. He has received numerous accolades, including election to the European Molecular Biology Organisation and fellowships with the Royal Society and the Academy of Medical Sciences. He has also held significant roles in various journals' editorial boards and is the Executive Chairman of the British Association for Cancer Research.
Francis Crick Institute • London, UK
Leads the Oncogene Biology Laboratory focusing on oncogenic proteins and their regulatory mechanisms.
Imperial Cancer Research Fund • London, UK
Established a lab that contributed significantly to the understanding of Ras proteins in cancer.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology • Cambridge, MA, USA
Conducted research on the role of Ras proteins in human cancer.
The Francis Crick Institute does not have traditional 'departments' but operates via interdisciplinary research groups. Candidates apply to the 'Crick PhD Programme' and select specific research topics or labs (e.g., Cell Biology, Immunology, Cancer Research) that align with the listed department names. Students register with one of three partner universities: UCL, King's College London, or Imperial College London.