

Pathway to Discovery
Intro
Behind the walls of the Francis Crick Institute, scientists are exploring life-changing questions about the biology of human health and disease.
Though the Crick only opened in 2016, our history stretches back over a hundred years. We are formed from two world-renowned scientific laboratories, the MRC National Institute for Medical Research and the Cancer Research UK London Research Institute (previously known as the Imperial Cancer Research Fund).
Scientists from our founding institutes were driven by a desire to understand how our bodies work, and what we can do to prevent and treat disease.
From mountaineering to major discoveries in cancer and infectious disease, their determination and curiosity changed the world (and won six Nobel Prizes in the process).
The 2,000 staff in this building are just as curious and determined as our scientific ancestors, and we’re exploring new questions every day.
Just imagine what we might discover next.
- Current exhibition
- Entry type
Visit any time - just turn up!
- Location
Dangoor Walk, alongside the Crick between Midland Road and Ossulston Street
Discover more
Explore our history and our current work in the stories below.
Image credit
What does this image show?
This background image from 1909 includes Ernest Bashford (centre front, in the long coat), the first director of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, who was responsible for a significant breakthrough in our understanding of cancer.
Acknowledgements
Curator: Anna Faherty; Design: HATO; Illustrations: Lauren Doughty