Prof. Fran Balkwill

Director and Founder, Centre of the Cell

How long have you worked at Centre of the Cell?
15 years

What is your favourite science fact?
That we are only 10% human (90% of the cells that make us are bacteria, yeast, and other microorganisms)

What is a fun fact about yourself?
I am hoping to take my Grade 8 piano exam in 2021 (and probably will have to take it again in 2024 and 2027!)

Which Centre of the Cell show is your favourite and why?
Snot, Sick and Scabs- because it was the first show we did and it still makes me laugh (and say yuck!)

Fran is also a Professor of cancer biology at Queen Mary, University of London and has written a series of books for children to engage them with science. Some of these titles include ‘Have a nice DNA’ and ‘Gene Machines’.