Leo James is a molecular biologist who uses an interdisciplinary, hypothesis-driven approach to understand how we defend ourselves against pathogens. He discovered intracellular antibody immunity, a critical system of pathogen protection in which antibodies activate cell autonomous defences from within the cytoplasm. His research has revealed how intracellular antibody immunity protects us against viruses, bacteria and prions using a mechanism that intermeshes innate and adaptive immunity.
Leo endeavors to translate his research into novel therapeutics and technologies. His work on targeted protein degradation has shown how cellular machinery can be redirected to remove proteins from the cell, to study their role in biological processes and prevent them from causing disease.
Professional position
- Group Leader, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
Subject groups
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Molecules of Life
Biochemistry and molecular biology, Biophysics and structural biology, Cell biology (incl molecular cell biology), Molecular immunology, Molecular microbiology
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Cell Biology
Cellular and humoral immunology, General microbiology (incl bacteriology and virology)
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Multicellular Organisms
Animal (especially mammalian) and human physiology and anatomy (non-clinical)
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Health and Human Sciences
Molecular medicine
