Welcome to the Laboratory of Biomolecular Research!

The goal of the research at the Laboratory of Biomolecular Research (LBR) within the Biology and Chemistry Division at the Paul Scherrer Institute is to provide an atomic level understanding on how the structure and dynamics of proteins and their complexes control essential biological processes. Our mission aligns with one of PSI’s main research focuses: The investigation of fundamental molecular mechanisms that determine human health and disease and exploring possible treatment methods.

In line with the mandate of the Division of Biology and Chemistry (BIO), we perform curiosity-driven, basic molecular biology research in the areas of cell division and signaling. Furthermore, we actively seek for possibilities to get engaged in applied research activities like, for example, drug discovery. Our research focusses on the structural analysis of challenging soluble and membrane-bound protein samples by using state-of-the-art X-ray crystallography techniques at the Swiss Light Source and SwissFEL, in combination with biophysical and modern electron microscopy methods.

A more detailed description of the LBR can be found here.
The organigram of the Biology and Chemistry Division can be found here.

Biomolecular Complexes

Regulation of microtubule structure, function and dynamics by proteins and drugs

Structural Biology of Membrane Proteins

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their signaling complexes

Applied Molecular Biology

Structural studies of soluble and membrane proteins

Time-Resolved Crystallography

Dynamics of soluble and membrane proteins using XFEL and synchrotron X-ray radiation sources

Mechanisms of Signal Transduction

Structure-function relationship of membrane proteins involved in transmembrane and intracellular signaling