Lori Passmore uses structural biology, biochemical reconstitution and functional studies in an integrated approach to investigate multiprotein complexes. Her particular interests include understanding the lifecycle of mRNAs and DNA repair. Lori and her group have made fundamental discoveries on the molecular mechanisms of addition and removal of mRNA poly-adenosine (poly(A)) tails, which are important for efficient mRNA translation into proteins and mRNA stability in eukaryotes. They have also provided new insights into the recognition and repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks. Lori’s group has contributed to technological advances including new methods in electron cryo microscopy.
Lori studied biochemistry at the University of British Columbia in Canada and received her PhD in structural biology from the Institute of Cancer Research in London. She started her group at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge in 2009.
Lori is an elected member of EMBO (2018) and is the recipient of a Suffrage Science Award (2016) and the RNA Society Elisa Izaurralde Award (2020).
Professional position
- Group Leader, Structural Studies Division, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
- Fellow, Clare Hall, University of Cambridge
