Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Accept all cookies Reject all non-essential cookies Find out more

Ray Group

We work on circadian rhythms, and nuclear receptors applied to both inflammation and energy metabolism. Our models range from cells to human populations.

We are interested in control systems operating on energy metabolism, and also on inflammation.  Disorders of these processes underpin many prevalent human diseases.  We focused attention on nuclear receptor biology which is fundamental to regulating both systems, and in particular the glucocorticoid receptor.  As it became clear that the glucocorticoid signalling network was intimately connected to the circadian timing machinery operating in peripheral tissues our research expanded to examine circadian biology.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our team

COLLABORATORS

Centre for Biological Timing, Manchester

  • Andrew Loudon
  • David Bechtold
  • Julie Gibbs
  • Hannah Durrington
  • John Blaikley, (NIH, Washington DC, USA)
  • Gordon Hager

GROUP IN MANCHESTER

Related research themes

Our focus is on finding the causes of metabolic and endocrine disease and capitalising on these discoveries to yield new treatments. We are world leaders in both large-scale genetic studies and global clinical trials, taking an international approach to advance our understanding and treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. From target discovery for type 2 diabetes and probing the biochemistry of fat, through to understanding islet physiology and transplantation, investigating liver disease and unravelling the mechanisms behind rare endocrine tumours, our research truly spans the bed to bedside journey.
Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology
We aim to better understand, diagnose and treat heart and vascular disease through our extensive cutting edge research programmes. We have a particular focus on understanding disease mechanisms and on new approaches to stratifying patients. Our expertise encompasses genetic studies to identify causative and risk genes, cardiovascular physiology and cellular biology to understand health and disease, the development and application of advanced imaging, experimental medicine and clinical trials.
Cardiovascular Science
We use state of the art techniques to interrogate the intricacies of our body’s response to pathogens, cancer and non-communicable diseases. We have particular strengths in T cell signaling, the innate immune system and therapeutic antibody development – particularly in oncology and against pathogens. We have forged strong links with clinical medicine to accelerate translation of laboratory studies into therapeutic strategies.
Immunology and Infection
A raft of cellular and molecular biology techniques underpin much of the work we do to elucidate the mechanisms of disease. We use established techniques to answer new questions and also develop our own novel and unique methodologies to drive further innovation.
Cellular and Molecular Biology
Using a range of imaging modalities, our researchers can probe – at the molecular level – the events that underpin cellular health and dysfunction.
Cellular and Preclinical Imaging
We have cutting edge expertise in a range of statistical and mathematical modelling techniques that allow us to interrogate large data sets – from the ‘big data’ of genomics through to magnetic resonance imaging and clinical trials. We are also home to the Medical Research Council WIMM Centre for Computational Biology – a hub for accelerating progress in genomics analysis and single cell biology.
Computational Biology, Statistics and Bioinformatics
We are committed to translating our innovative research into clinical benefit. From new methods of diagnosing chronic conditions, to finding the latest treatments for diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and rare diseases, our department is involved in hundreds of clinical studies every year.
Clinical Studies and Trials