In 1966, Louise moved to Yale University for postdoctoral research in the group of Frederic Richards. There, she contributed to the structure determination of RNase S (ref. 2). Louise returned to the UK a year later, joining the newly created Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, headed by David Phillips and based in Oxford University's Zoology Department. The head of the department, John Pringle, had a remarkable vision of integrating biology from molecule to animal. The Phillips laboratory was key to establishing a major research program to understand the structural and evolutionary relationships of enzymes of the glycolytic pathway. The grant award system at that time allowed Louise freedom to explore a variety of projects, and these included crystallographic studies of aldolase and triose phosphate isomerase.

In 1971, Louise initiated her groundbreaking studies on glycogen phosphorylase, which would remain the focus of her laboratory for nearly 30 years. Phosphorylase controls glycogen metabolism. In muscle, the enzyme regulates production of glucose-1-phosphate to fuel muscle contraction, whereas the liver enzyme functions to control blood glucose homeostasis.

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