The Centre for Free Radical Research is an internationally-recognised leader in the field of free radical research. Our mission is to discover how free radicals and antioxidants work inside the body, and how this knowledge can be used to diagnose and treat human disease.
Our research areas
Biochemistry and cell biology of oxidative stress and redox signalling with applications to human health, including:
What are free radicals?
Free radicals (also called oxidants or reactive oxygen species) are reactive chemicals that are continually made inside our body. Some free radicals play important roles in health, helping to fight infection and transmit signals within cells. However, uncontrolled production of free radicals can cause oxidative stress and contribute to disease.
What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants provide protection against excessive levels of free radicals and ensure that free radical levels are kept in a finely-tuned balance. We obtain some antioxidants from our diet, but our body also makes a large number of antioxidants.
