What we are
The Rosalind Franklin Institute is a technology institute for life science, creating innovative technologies that transform our understanding of life.
Our technologies, borne out of innovation in physical sciences, create collaborations and new avenues in life science which will lead to new therapeutics and advance our understanding of human biology.
We are funded by the UK Research Innovation through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. The Franklin is a charity, created through a joint venture of its members; ten leading UK Universities, the Diamond Light Source, and UKRI-STFC.
Key Achievements
Since our inception in 2018, we have worked with global partners to pioneer new technology platforms for life science.
- We have partnered with Thermo Fisher Scientific to advance the field of electron tomography, bringing new products to market and establishing new methods and standards for the community
- Advanced the field of engineering biology through our work in post translational modification of proteins and in-cell chemistry.
- Created new industrial partnerships through our nanobodies platform, based on our pioneering work against SARs-CoV-2
- Created a bespoke home for our technologies on the Harwell Campus, which we occupied in 2021
Find out more about our current work on our Challenge and Project pages.
Culture and Strategy
Everyone working at the Franklin is committed to helping the Franklin succeed in developing new technologies to accelerate future Life Science discoveries.
We believe that challenges are best tackled by working together, so we are committed to developing a collaborative and supportive culture where everyone feels recognised and appreciated. We are always striving to improve and want to foster an environment that encourages continuous growth.
Working with the Franklin
We know that to succeed that we not only need to collaborate with our colleagues within the Franklin, but also with colleagues around the world, both in academia and industry.
We know that different partners will have different ways of working and different needs, so our collaborations are bespoke and are currently seeking new partners. Find out more about how you can work with the Franklin.
Our Location
Situated on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, the Franklin sits in one of the largest and fastest growing science ecosystems in the world. Our neighbours include the MRC Mary Lyon Centre, Diamond Light Source, Isis Neutron and Muon Source, the Research Complex at Harwell, and the UKRI-STFC Technology departments. The wider campus hosts both private and public investments.
Annual Report 2022-23
The Franklin continues to thrive post pandemic, with science in all our themes gaining momentum, and with our collaborations and partnerships gathering pace and producing impactful work for the UK.
The Hub at Harwell
The Rosalind Franklin Institute sits at the centre of the rapidly expanding Harwell Science and Innovation Campus.
The Hub houses all core and support staff for the Institute, plus visiting researchers from industry and academia.