Our research facilities
Researchers make use of outstanding facilities and resources at Queen Mary – many are listed on this page. You can find detailed descriptions of facilities on academic school and department websites, see the organisational structure page for a list of all academic schools.
Antenna Measurement laboratory
The Antenna Measurement laboratory supports the work of the Antennas and Electromagnetics Group and offers one of the best university experimental facilities in Europe. Find out more
Augmented Human Interaction laboratory
The Augmented Human Interaction (AHI) laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies including full-body and multi-person motion capture, virtual and augmented reality systems and advanced aural and visual display technologies. Founded on a collaboration between the Interaction, Media and Communication and the Computer Vision research groups, the AHI enables exploration of the potential of digital media to enrich and transform human communication. Find out more
Biological and Chemical Sciences research facilities
Facilities based in the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences include: an analytical laboratory; a confocal microscopy facility; a digital and photographic imaging centre (DPIC); high field liquid phase and solid state NMR; informatics resources; medium field liquid phase and solid state NMR; a protein purification facility; scientific glassblowing; surface characterisation (XPS\ESCA, UPS, AES); an X-ray diffraction facility; and a Zebrafish facility. Visit the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences website for more information about all of these facilities
Breast cancer tissue bank
Barts Cancer Institute is working with three other centres around the UK to house a multi-million pound breast cancer campaign tissue bank. The UK's first ever national cancer tissue bank, it will house tissue for scientists to study in their search for answers to how and why breast cancer develops and spreads.
Barts Cancer institute is well equipped with additional specialist facilities including:
- Affymetrix an array facility equipped to allow for efficient and concurrent throughput of both Gene Expression and SNP Genotyping chips;
- a flow cytometry facility that can provide a high quality professional service related to flow cytometric techniques using cutting edge equipment;
- a mass spectrometry laboratory which supports researchers with a variety of high quality mass spectrometry based analyses (covering both proteomics and metabolomics);
- Advanced Molecular imaging facilities;
- and an extensive Pathology Service which offers a full range of histological techniques.
Blizard Advanced Light Microscopy (BALM)
BALM provides high-tech multi-million pound advanced imaging technology. Researchers are able to observe, record and analyse experiments making picture perfect images and cutting-edge scientific insights. Find out more
The Blizard Institute of Cell and Molecular Science is well equipped with a range of additional facilities including:
- a siRNA Screening facility which allows researchers to carry out high-throughput siRNA and miRNA screens
- a flow cytometry core facility with three high powered high speed flow cytometers are available as well as a three colour LED upright Fluorecence microscope;
- and a pathology core facility providing histopathology services to members of Queen Mary and other academic institutes, as well as providing a diagnostic service to the private sector.
Centre for Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (CCMMP) laboratories
A range of well-equipped laboratories supports the work of the Centre for Condensed Matter and Materials Physics including equipment for the production of nanotubes and functionalised fullerines, and laser ablation facilities to produce nanoparticles. Find out more
Computational research facilities
Queen Mary runs two facilities for both high-performance and high-capacity computational work. The high-performance facilities include two parallel computers with 1136 Intel cores and 868 AMD cores, both with inifiband interconnects. The high-capacity facilities are associated with the GridPP cluster, and have 1440 cores. Queen Mary scientists also use the HECToR national supercomputing facility.
Find out more about computational and simulation research taking place at Queen Mary.
Film and drama studio
A fully-equipped film and drama studio is at the heart of the stunning ArtsTwo building, a £21m development which also houses the School of History.
Genome Centre
The Genome Centre has successfully provided genetic and genomic research facilities to researchers within Queen Mary and the wider Life Sciences research community for over 10 years. The facility enables studies of the genome, transcriptome and epigenome on any scale. Find out more
Lock-keeper's Cottage Graduate Centre
Originally a Victorian cottage, the Lock-keeper's Cottage Graduate Centre is an imaginatively refurbished and award-winning space for the exclusive use of postgraduate and post-doctoral researchers across the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Mechanical Testing Labs
The mechanical testing labs in the School of Engineering and Materials Science are equipped to carry out tests to determine mechanical properties of materials such as yield and ultimate tensile stresses, Young’s modulus, shear modulus, Poisson’s ratio, fracture toughness, and hardness. Find out more
The School of Engineering and Materials science is well-equipped with a range of additional facilities, find out more
NanoVision Centre
The NanoVision Centre is a multimillion pound, state-of-the-art microscope unit, which brings together the latest imaging technologies to open up new avenues for research, combining high resolution imaging with structural, chemical and mechanical analysis. A multidisciplinary facility, the NanoVision Centre has the capacity to advance the frontiers in materials science, cell and molecular sciences, structural biology, solid state physics and the earth sciences. Find out more
Physical Geography laboratories
The Physical Geography laboratory facilities have been designed specifically to cater for physical geography and environmental science research, providing ample opportunity for varied undergraduate classes, postgraduate and academic research. The laboratories are also used for analytical work undertaken on a consultancy basis. Find out more
Protein Analysis Unit
The Protein Analysis Unit is well-equipped to undertake protein analysis and proteomic research. Find out more
Wind tunnel facilities
Housed in the School of Engineering and Materials Science, our wind tunnel facilities are made up of eight low-speed wind tunnels, a very low turbulence wind tunnel, three high-speed wind tunnels, computer-based flow control system with high-speed real-time data acquisition and processing system, colour and high-focused Schlieren systems, interactive aerodynamic simulator, PIV system. Find out more
XDF: an X-ray diffraction facility
The XDF X-ray diffraction facility offers a full diffraction analysis service in materials science, structural chemistry, structural biology and solid state science. Find out more
Zebrafish facility
The zebrafish (Daniorerio) is an established vertebrate model species used to explore development and gene function. QM currently house a breeding room, behavioural observation room, a larger aquarium housing nursery area and nine stand-alone units with a total capacity to hold over 5000 fish. Find out more