Developing an AI-ready FAIR data analysis platform for experimental life science - RFI The Franklin’s Advanced Research Computing (ARC) team has developed a robust and resilient data storage and analysis platform to ensure that all data created at the Franklin can be managed in line with the FAIR principles: to be findable, accessible, interoperable and retrievable. The infrastructure automates the transfer, cataloguing and curating of data for speed and consistency. The software developed through this work is open source and the Franklin is sharing its data management expertise with other organisations to help embed best practice widely within the research computing field.

The software is open source, and the team is sharing its data management expertise to help embed best practice across the research computing community.

Read the full case study here -

Two people infront of a blue and red backdrop. One of the people, Dimitrios Bellos, is receiving an award, in the form of a framed blue certificate and a glass award.

How do you build an AI‑ready research data platform that’s robust, resilient, and FAIR?
The Franklin’s Advanced Research Computing (ARC) team has developed a data storage and analysis platform that automates the transfer, cataloguing, and curation of research data for speed and consistency.

Chromatic Correction for observing biological dynamics - RFI JEOL’s pioneering chromatic aberration corrected electron microscope has at the Franklin. This is the culmination of a five-year collaboration which was started at the outset of the Franklin and has already delivered two other unique instruments. The development of the latest instrument represents the first of its type globally and the first chromatically corrected instrument in the UK. Commissioning will take place over the next year by a team at the Franklin that includes a JEOL embedded research scientist for 3 years. Initial applications of the instrument will be to use sophisticated liquid cells to study biological dynamics and to study thick samples.

Read more about this microscope here: www.rfi.ac.uk/collaborate/...

JEOL’s pioneering chromatic aberration corrected electron microscope arrived a year ago at the Franklin. This instrument represents the first of its type globally, initial applications of the instrument will be to use liquid cells to study biological dynamics and to study thick samples.

Page not found - Rosalind Franklin Institute The Rosalind Franklin Institute is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales, registration number 11266143.

Read more about Liquid Phase Electron Microscopy here: www.rfi.ac.uk/collaborate/...

Grayscale microscopic image showing tightly packed, rounded cells (D. radiodurans) arranged in a repeating pattern, with small bright spots within each cell. The are encapsulated in graphene is the white film over the top of the cells.

The Franklin team is developing novel sample cells for electron microscopy using sheets of graphene, which enable the study of biomolecules in solution at high resolution. The ultimate goal of this project is to be able to image biological cells in liquid and observe cellular dynamics.

Every day, our researchers are working towards a healthier future for everyone.
Meet some of the scientists behind the work in our researcher spotlights: www.rfi.ac.uk/latest/?filt...
Together for health. Stand with science. #WorldHealthDay

Rosalind Franklin Institute to increase support for innovators - RFI The Franklin’s mission is dedicated to developing disruptive new technologies to tackle major challenges in life sciences, better ensuring UK pandemic preparedness and accelerating the discovery of new treatments for chronic diseases affecting millions of people around the world, such as dementia. Since its establishment in 2018, the Franklin has delivered novel discovery across its […]

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“The Franklin has a rich portfolio of methods and tools. Exciting and novel discoveries are being made. There is a tremendous opportunity to tailor these to the needs of industry and biotech to speed and de-risk new therapeutics discovery. Accelerated translation of Franklin science promises to add valuable differentiators to the UK therapeutics ecosystem.” Jo Pisani Chair of the Translation and Enterprise Advisory Board

The Franklin’s Translation and Enterprise Advisory Board will play a key role in guiding translation. Combining training in entrepreneurship and commercialisation, tailored coaching, and support to build strong partnerships, we’re strengthening the support available to Franklin innovators.

Building on our existing Thermo Fisher Scientific microscopes, the Franklin's newest instrument will enable us to explore the imaging of thicker cryogenic samples while potentially extending the range of molecules visualised, increasing in-situ imaging capability for the structural biology community

Picture showing a researcher using a large microscope with the text on top of blue background saying “We’re Hiring – Research Associates.”

Still time to apply!

We're hiring two Research Associates to join the MDI Challenge team, working on cutting-edge electron microscopy and spectroscopy.

🔬 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝟰𝗗 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴
🔬 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗨𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴

Apply by this Sunday: tinyurl.com/4uew66kn

Franklin researchers demonstrate potential of llama antibodies as a treatment for SARS-CoV-2 - RFI During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Franklin team were able to generate nanobodies which are capable of neutralising SARS-CoV2, and with partners, at UK Health Security Agency (formerly Public Health England) and the Universities of Oxford and Liverpool, were able to prove their effectiveness in an animal model when administered as a nasal spray.

One of the Franklin’s flagship projects is to establish an innovative pipeline for the creation of neutralising nanobodies, specifically targeting novel respiratory viruses.

Read the full case study here -www.rfi.ac.uk/collaborate/...

Higgs Boson was UK triumph, but British physics faces 'catastrophic' cuts Britain is preparing to cancel its contribution to one of the Large Hadron Collider's next major upgrades.

BBC coverage of UKRI system changes featured insights from Dr Stuart Wainwright, NRO Group Director. We welcome UKRI’s new strategy and have written to UKRI CEO outlining key elements we believe should be built into the transition. Letter: www.nrogroup.org
#MakingResearchMatter #NRO #UKRI @ukri.org

Two researchers look at microscopy images on computer screens, with text saying “We’re Hiring – Research Associates." on top of yellow and grey background

We’re hiring! Join the MDI Challenge team (Prof Angus Kirkland).

Open roles:
🔬 Research Associate in Potential Mapping Using 4D STEM (Dr Judy Kim)
🔬 Research Associate in Mapping of Antibiotic Uptake (Dr Adrian Pedrazo-Tardajos)

Apply now! tinyurl.com/4uew66kn

#career #opportunity #apply

Crowd-powered research - RFI We have developed open-source tools to support the aggregation, visualisation, and analysis of citizen science data, and shown that citizen science can produce valuable annotations for training and finetuning models for complex 3D biological imaging datasets.

During #BritishScienceWeek we’re celebrating the 18,000 volunteers who helped the Franklin analyse millions of 3D images - accelerating data analysis, helping finetune models and revealing new biological insights.

Read more: www.rfi.ac.uk/collaborate/...

🔗 Read more: www.rfi.ac.uk/latest/from-...

How do you compare a mouse placenta to a rhino’s?
By combining advanced imaging with deep learning, Franklin and @unisouthampton.bsky.social researchers have developed new ways to measure placental structure across species- revealing features that matter for health, disease and evolution.

🚨TLM HYBRID SEMINAR🚨
18/03/2026 (16:00 UK) Dr. Karina Pombo from @rosfrankinst.bsky.social will be presenting: “Membrane prewetting by condensates promotes tight-junction belt formation” at Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry (Wolfson Lecture Theater)
@pombo-garcialab.bsky.social

Explore the full case study here: www.rfi.ac.uk/collaborate/...

Primary school student looking into a light microscope during an in school workshop

As part of our ongoing British Science Week highlights, we are sharing our latest case study on the impact of scientific engagement.

This case study shows how school students gain invaluable real-world STEM exposure through our collaboration with @ebpcharity.bsky.social and local schools.

Pupils also learn about Dr Rosalind Franklin and how her work continues to inspire our mission today. It feels meaningful this week, celebrating British Science Week and following International Women's Day, to inspire students and highlight the impact women have made and continue to make in science.

Primary school pupils in green jumpers sitting at individual desks on blue chairs in a classroom. Pupils have their backs to the camera, several of them have their hands raised.

Two sheets of paper on a desk with a hand wriing on one of them. One page shows a table, the other shows a diagram of the human body with arrows pointing to the bran, eye, heart and intestine.

A primary school pupil in a green jumper with their back to the camera looking into a microscope with a researcher watching over explaining what is inside.

It’s been a busy few months for Franklin staff, delivering hands‑on workshops in schools with support from @ebpcharity.bsky.social. From machine‑learning models to mock funding proposals, students have been stepping into a scientist’s shoes and discovering what research looks like in practice.

www.rfi.ac.uk/discover-lea...

A colourful pipe cleaner model of a neuron showing labelled parts. Green and white loops at the top represent dendrites branching from the cell body. A twisted multicoloured stem represents the axon extending downward. Pink and white pipe cleaner shapes at the bottom depict the axon terminals. Yellow arrows point to each part with labels: ‘Dendrites,’ ‘Cell body,’ ‘Axon,’ and ‘Axon terminals.’

It’s British Science Week!
This year’s theme is Curiosity: What’s your question?
Why not start by asking: How does my brain send messages?
Build your own neuron from pipe cleaners and explore how your amazing body works. Or discover more science at home activities on our website.

Three colleagues sit around a meeting table with laptops in a bright office, seen through a circular frame. The design includes teal and grey branding with The Rosalind Franklin Institute logo and the text “We’re Hiring – Finance Assistant,” with arrow graphics at the bottom.

We’re hiring a Finance Assistant!

Be the backbone of our daily operations, keeping records accurate so our scientists can focus on research. Work collaboratively across operations and science teams, with room to grow in the position.

Bring your can-do attitude and apply today! tinyurl.com/ubtc3hef

Scientist in a white lab coat adjusting tubing inside an instrument in a laboratory. Purple graphic overlay with the text “We Are Hiring,” the website www.rfi.ac.uk, and The Rosalind Franklin Institute logo.

🔬 We’re hiring a Research Associate in Chemical Proteomics.

Develop cutting-edge MS methods, study complex proteomes, and collaborate across research & our Proteomics Core. Build independence, leadership skills & your scientific profile.

Apply now: opportunities.rfi.ac.uk/vacancy/rese...

Two researchers in lab coats working at a computer workstation with scientific imaging equipment, alongside text reading ‘We Are Hiring’ from The Rosalind Franklin Institute.

🔬We’re hiring a Research Assistant at the Rosalind Franklin Institute to support cutting-edge research in cell–cell interactions using human gut organoids.
Work with CRISPR, advanced cell culture & super-resolution imaging in a collaborative lab.
Apply now! opportunities.rfi.ac.uk/vacancy/rese...

We had a fantastic time at the festival of tomorrow over the weekend. Thanks to everyone who came to have a chat with us about llamas vs viruses!
#festivaloftomorrow
@festivaloftomorrow.bsky.social

A huge well‑done to Sheera Abdulla and Mellisa Govender‑Kirkpatrick, who have been working hard to make small but meaningful changes within out labs, from optimising freezer management and sourcing locally to introducing practical, everyday behavioural improvements.

Mellisa and Sheera stand side by side in a lab corridor, wearing white lab coats and safety glasses and holding their LEAF certificates. To the right is a window, and behind them colleagues move through an open, laboratory space.

We’re proud to celebrate two major sustainability milestones at the Franklin.
Our Biology Lab has achieved Gold LEAF certification, and our Chemistry Lab has earned Bronze!

Read more: www.rfi.ac.uk/latest/celeb...