The Biophysical Sciences institute was formed in 2007 by Professors Judith Howard CBE FRS (Durham Chemistry), Martyn Chamberlain FInstP (Durham Physics), Professor Keith Orford (Durham Physics) and and Roy Quinlan (Durham Biosciences) with support from the Wolfson Trust.

The Wolfson investment of £1.5 Million was used to establish the BSI and to convert laboratories on the top floor of the Department of Chemistry into biosciences laboratories. This location built on the enthusiastic Bioactive Chemistry research group in the Department of Chemistry and gave Durham both a physical space for interdisciplinary biosciences research and a network to connect researchers working in this area. Since they were officially opened in 2009 the Wolfson Laboratories have provided a physical focus to the wider BSI community across the University. They have become an exemplar for interdisciplinary research have stimulated further interdisciplinary biophysical research across the Faculty of Science.

• 77 Academic group leaders engaged in the BSI in 2026
• £144 M In funding for the BSI Community since 2008