The nucleosome remodelling and histone deacetylase (NuRD; also known as Mi-2) complex is a multisubunit chromatin remodelling complex that contains two core subunits (chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein 3 (CHD3; also known as Mi-2α) and CHD4 (also known as Mi-2β), and histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and HDAC2) with enzymatic functions. CHD3 and CHD4 catalyse ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling, and HDAC1 and HDAC2 mediate histone and protein deacetylation. All subunits of the complex are encoded by multiple gene paralogues. Combinatorial assembly of these paralogues contributes to the targeting and function of the complex. The metastasis-associated gene 1 (MTA1) subunit is widely overexpressed in many types of cancer and is associated with poor prognosis. Unlike other chromatin remodelling complexes with well-defined roles in cancer, the NuRD complex can promote or suppress tumorigenesis depending on context. NuRD complex recruitment to specific loci is mediated by multiple mechanisms, including recruitment by transcription factors and direct interaction with methylated DNA. Emerging evidence suggests non-transcriptional roles of the NuRD complex in the maintenance of genome stability, including DNA replication, chromatin assembly and DNA repair.