THE MRC-AZ-UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE JOINT FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS SCREENING LABORATORY (FGSL)

The FGSL – a joint venture between our Institute at the University of Cambridge, the Medical Research Council (MRC) and AstraZeneca – aims to combine know-how and experience to accelerate the development of biomarkers and therapeutics for diseases through functional interrogation of the genome at scale. As part of the Human Functional Genomics Initiative,  the FGSL will form collaborations to explore how genes impact on complex phenotypes in development and disease.

The FGSL leverages the unique features of arrayed CRISPR screening, whereby individual genes are edited via CRISPR–Cas9 in a plate-based format, to uncover the complexity of developmental and disease signatures in human in vitro models. Our laboratory is equipped with a high-throughput screening platform that enables automated liquid handling and acquisition of high-content endpoints including spatial imaging and flow cytometry.

We have completed our first screen in a patient-derived organoid model and are currently running screens in models derived from human iPSCs, primary immune cells and patient derived organoids. 

The FGSL – a joint venture between our Institute at the University of Cambridge, the Medical Research Council (MRC) and AstraZeneca – aims to combine know-how and experience to accelerate the development of biomarkers and therapeutics for diseases through functional interrogation of the genome at scale. As part of the Human Functional Genomics Initiative,  the FGSL will form collaborations to explore how genes impact on complex phenotypes in development and disease. Hosted at our Institute as a cross-functional partnership, this laboratory aligns with our mission to combine the strengths of academia and business to accelerate the development of therapies.

The FGSL leverages the unique features of arrayed screening, whereby individual genes are edited via CRISPR/Cas9 in a plate-based format, to uncover the complexity of developmental and disease signatures using human in vitro models. To do this, the laboratory is equipped with a high-throughput screening platform that enables automated liquid handling and acquisition of high-content endpoints including spatial imaging and flow cytometry.

Funding is available for academic researchers from across the UK to access this state-of-the-art automated platform and in-house tools, to perform high-throughput phenotypic screening. A call for proposals for the FGSL is currently open. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with review deadlines in May and November each year.

FGSL Leadership

Call for Proposals

Funding is available for academic researchers from across the UK to work with the FGSL: Our call for proposals is open with reviews of submissions taking place in May and November.

The FGSL call for proposals is relevant to UK-based academics, small/medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and pharma who have complex human in vitro models, such as organoids, co-culture models, primary cells or iPSC-derived models, amenable to arrayed CRISPR screening.

How to apply
All information regarding the application process, the application form and arrayed CRISPR screens is available on the Functional Genomics Screening Laboratory space of the Connect: Health Tech (C:HT) online community. A review of submitted applications will take place twice yearly by the FGSL joint steering committee, which is made up of representatives from the MRC, AZ and the MTI, and a panel of scientists who are experts on arrayed CRISPR screens and complex in vitro human models.

Ahead of submitting an application, we ask potential applicants to register interest by emailing FGSLapplications@milner.cam.ac.uk. We will set up a call to discuss your proposed project and provide guidance for applications.

Key date:
Next deadline for review of submitted applications: November 2026

More about the FGSL

FGSL Partners