Oxford Biology launches bold new research vision – driving discovery, enabling change
22 April 2026
The Department of Biology at the University of Oxford has launched a bold new research vision designed to accelerate discovery, deepen understanding of life, and deliver solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
At the heart of this vision are five new interdisciplinary research hubs that unite expertise across scales – from molecules to ecosystems, and from natural to artificial intelligence. These hubs bring together scientists from diverse fields to address major global questions, from preventing infectious disease and protecting biodiversity to advancing sustainable agriculture and exploring the foundations of intelligence.
Professor Martin Maiden, Head of the Department of Biology, says:
“Our new research hubs bring people together in bold and creative ways. By connecting insights from across the life sciences – and linking them to technology, policy, and society – we aim to generate the knowledge and solutions needed for a sustainable future.”
Professor John Mackay, Associate Head for Research, who has been leading on delivering this new vision, says:
“Our new hubs are the product of deep collaboration across the department. Rather than being imposed from above, they emerged through discussion, reflection, and shared purpose – anchored in what our researchers know is most important for science and society today. The research hubs reflect the real strengths of our community and the areas where Oxford Biology can make the greatest impact.”
The strategy is supported and enabled by Oxford’s new Life and Mind Building (LaMB), a state-of-the-art home for Biology and Experimental Psychology. With its purpose-built laboratories, flexible teaching spaces, and shared research facilities, the building provides an environment designed to foster collaboration, creativity, and innovation across disciplines.
The design concept behind the building – ‘life and mind’ – is already coming together as the Bridging natural and artificial intelligence hub brings together researchers in both Biology and Experimental Psychology. Together they are studying how living systems learn, adapt, and make decisions, and how these insights can inspire the next generation of AI systems that are more adaptive, robust, and context-aware.
Dr Charly Treiber, who leads a research group studying how genomic variation shapes behaviour, reflects:
“From the moment we first stepped into the LaMB’s atrium, it felt like the beginning of a new chapter – not just a new space, but a new way of doing research. The light-filled open spaces invite exchange and collaboration. As a biologist studying individuality in animals, the chance to bump into colleagues from psychology – sometimes literally at the coffee station – is both refreshing and inspiring.”
The new hubs exemplify Oxford Biology’s commitment to combining cutting-edge research with real-world impact, ensuring that discoveries made in the lab and field translate into benefits for health, conservation, and the environment.
