Frank Uhlmann

Frank Uhlmann FRS

Frank Uhlmann is a prominent cell biologist known for his significant contributions to the field of molecular biology, particularly in the study of chromosome segregation and cell cycle regulation. He is a professor at the Francis Crick Institute in London, where he leads a research group focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms that ensure accurate chromosome segregation during cell division.

Early Life and Education

Frank Uhlmann was born in Germany. He pursued his undergraduate studies in biology at the University of Heidelberg, where he developed an interest in genetics and molecular biology. He completed his PhD at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, where he worked on the regulation of the cell cycle.

Research and Career

After completing his PhD, Uhlmann conducted postdoctoral research at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now part of Cancer Research UK) in London. During this time, he made significant discoveries regarding the role of the cohesin complex in chromosome segregation. His work demonstrated how cohesin holds sister chromatids together until they are ready to be separated during anaphase.

In 2000, Uhlmann joined the Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, where he continued his research on cohesin and other proteins involved in chromosome segregation. In 2015, he moved to the Francis Crick Institute, where he currently leads a research group.

Key Contributions

Frank Uhlmann's research has provided critical insights into the mechanisms of chromosome segregation and the regulation of the cell cycle. Some of his key contributions include:

• Elucidating the role of the cohesin complex in maintaining sister chromatid cohesion.
• Discovering the mechanisms by which separase cleaves cohesin to trigger chromatid separation.
• Investigating the regulation of anaphase and the mitotic spindle checkpoint.

Awards and Honors

Uhlmann has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to cell biology, including:

• The EMBO Gold Medal
• Election to the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)
• Fellow of the Royal Society

Personal Life

Frank Uhlmann is married and has two children. He enjoys hiking and classical music in his spare time.

See Also

• Cell cycle
• Chromosome segregation
• Cohesin complex
• Francis Crick Institute