About us

Biochemistry and molecular biology are closely related disciplines which study the chemical processes and genetic material of living cells, so that we can better understand biological processes and how these are altered in disease.

Research and teaching in the department encompasses six broad themes: cell biology, signal transduction, host/pathogen interaction, structural biology, immunology and developmental biology. Our research is highly relevant to major human diseases and pathological processes, including infection, inflammation, autoimmunity, diabetes and obesity, developmental and degenerative disorders, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

Our Head of Department, Professor Nicole La Gruta, explains our research vision:

‘The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Monash University is dedicated to uncovering and teaching the fundamental biological mechanisms that govern life, from the single molecule to complex cellular systems.

Through cross-disciplinary collaborations, state-of-the-art technologies, and world-class education, we strive to understand and communicate how biomolecules function in health and disease, and to translate that knowledge into real-world solutions for biological and medical challenges’.

-