The Biomedical Research Network (BRN) was established in 2010 to coordinate biomedical research activity across several departments within the Faculty of Science. Current work is focussed on globally important health challenges, and is funded by UK/EU Research Councils, charitable bodies and industrial partners. We keenly foster collaborations within the Open University and with external HEIs. We are working alongside the Open University’s Department of Health and Social Care to explore new avenues for enhancing the impact and delivery of our science to clinical practitioners. BRN researchers also contribute the Open University’s state of the art curriculum material.
BRN researchers publish in high impact factor journals (including Science, Molecular Cell, PNAS, J Cell Biology, J Neuroscience and PLoS journals). Details of our publications can be found at the Open University’s Open Research Online site. Furthermore, BRN members participate in policy panels, PUS events, scientific assessment panels, editorial boards, and industrial liaisons and are frequently invited to give lectures at international meetings and research seminars at other institutions. BRN currently hosts >20 PhD/MSc students, and numerous post-doctoral fellows.
Our research teams comprise biologists, chemists and psychologists who contribute to a vibrant and interdisciplinary community. Our laboratory facilities are located at the central OU campus in Milton Keynes and were recently expanded. Key facilities include molecular genetics labs, tissue culture suites, scanning and transverse electron microscopy, confocal and wide-field fluorescence microscopy. For more information, please see the BRN webpages.
Contact details:
Director: Dr Ignacio Romero
Academic advisory board:
Dr James Phillips
Dr Rosa Hoekstra
Dr Martin Bootman
Dr Claire Turner
Professor Michael Stewart
Dr Robert Saunders
Research Administrator: Sandra Riekie
Admin Support: Janet Goss
For general enquiries please email Science-Biomed@open.ac.uk or call +44 (0)1908 652944
For enquiries relating to postgraduate research please refer to our Research Degrees Prospectus or for more specific advice prospective students should contact science-phd-enquiries@open.ac.uk.