Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Encyclopedia
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is a UK Research Council
and NDPB
and is the largest UK public funder of non-medical bioscience. It predominantly funds scientific
research institutes and university
research departments in the UK
.
(BIS), BBSRC's mission is to "promote and support, by any means, high-quality basic, strategic and applied research and related postgraduate training relating to the understanding and exploitation of biological systems".
- the same building as the other Research Councils, AHRC
EPSRC
, ESRC
, MRC
, NERC
, and STFC
, as well as RCUK
and the UKSA
. Its annual budget is £445M in financial year 2011/2012. BBSRC also manages the joint Research Councils' Office in Brussels - the UK Research Office (UKRO).
(AFRC) and taking over the biological science activities of the former Science and Engineering Research Council
(SERC).
Chairs
Chief Executives
), a chief executive (Professor Douglas Kell
) and from ten to eighteen representatives from UK universities, government and industry. The Council approves policies, strategy, budgets and major funding.
A Strategy Advisory Board provides expert advice which BBSRC Council draws upon in making decisions. The purpose of the Strategy Advisory Board is to advise on:
The Institutes of BBSRC are tasked with delivering innovative, world class bioscience research and training, leading to wealth and job creation, generating high returns for the UK economy. They have strong links with business, industry and the wider community, and support policy development.
The institutes' research underpins key sectors of the UK economy such as agriculture, bioenergy, biotechnology, food and drink and pharmaceuticals. In addition, the institutes maintain unique research facilities of national importance.
Other research institutes have merged with each other or with local universities. Previous BBSRC (or AFRC) sponsored institutes include:
Research Council
The UK Research Councils, of which there are currently seven, are publicly-funded agencies responsible for co-ordinating and funding particular areas of research, including the arts, humanities, all areas of science and engineering...
and NDPB
Non-departmental public body
In the United Kingdom, a non-departmental public body —often referred to as a quango—is a classification applied by the Cabinet Office, Treasury, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive to certain types of public bodies...
and is the largest UK public funder of non-medical bioscience. It predominantly funds scientific
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
research institutes and university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
research departments in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Purpose
Receiving its funding through the science budget of the Department for Business, Innovation and SkillsDepartment for Business, Innovation and Skills
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is a ministerial department of the United Kingdom Government created on 5 June 2009 by the merger of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform .-Ministers:The BIS...
(BIS), BBSRC's mission is to "promote and support, by any means, high-quality basic, strategic and applied research and related postgraduate training relating to the understanding and exploitation of biological systems".
Structure
BBSRC's head office is at Polaris House in SwindonSwindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
- the same building as the other Research Councils, AHRC
Arts and Humanities Research Council
Established in April 2005 as successor to the Arts and Humanities Research Board, the Arts and Humanities Research Council is a British Research Council and non-departmental public body that provides approximately £102 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the...
EPSRC
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council is a British Research Council that provides government funding for grants to undertake research and postgraduate degrees in engineering and the physical sciences , mainly to universities in the United Kingdom...
, ESRC
Economic and Social Research Council
The Economic and Social Research Council is one of the seven Research Councils in the United Kingdom. It receives most of its funding from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and provides funding and support for research and training work in social and economic issues, such as...
, MRC
Medical Research Council (UK)
The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
, NERC
Natural Environment Research Council
The Natural Environment Research Council is a British research council that supports research, training and knowledge transfer activities in the environmental sciences.-History:...
, and STFC
Science and Technology Facilities Council
The Science and Technology Facilities Council is a UK government body that carries out civil research in science and engineering, and funds UK research in areas including particle physics, nuclear physics, space science and astronomy .-History:It was formed in April 2007 as a merger of the Particle...
, as well as RCUK
Research Councils UK
Research Councils UK is a strategic partnership between the seven UK Research Councils. It enables the Councils to work together more effectively to enhance the overall impact and effectiveness of their research, training and innovation activities, contributing to the delivery of the Government's...
and the UKSA
UK Space Agency
The UK Space Agency is a United Kingdom government agency responsible for its civil space programme. It was established on 1 April 2010 to replace the British National Space Centre and took over responsibility for government policy and key budgets for space and represents the UK in all negotiations...
. Its annual budget is £445M in financial year 2011/2012. BBSRC also manages the joint Research Councils' Office in Brussels - the UK Research Office (UKRO).
History
BBSRC was created in 1994, merging the former Agricultural and Food Research CouncilAgricultural and Food Research Council
The Agricultural and Food Research Council , was a British Research Council responsible for funding and managing scientific and technological developments in farming and horticulture....
(AFRC) and taking over the biological science activities of the former Science and Engineering Research Council
Science and Engineering Research Council
The Science and Engineering Research Council used to be the UK agency in charge of publicly funded scientific and engineering research activities including astronomy, biotechnology and biological sciences, space research and particle physics...
(SERC).
Chairs
- Sir Alistair Grant (1994-1998)
- Dr Peter Doyle CBE (1998-2003)
- Dr Peter Ringrose (2003-2009)
- Prof Sir Tom BlundellTom BlundellSir Tom Leon Blundell, FRS, FMedSci is a British biochemist and science administrator. Up until 2009, he was the Sir William Dunn Professor of Biochemistry and head of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge....
FRS (2009-present)
Chief Executives
- Prof (now Sir) Tom BlundellTom BlundellSir Tom Leon Blundell, FRS, FMedSci is a British biochemist and science administrator. Up until 2009, he was the Sir William Dunn Professor of Biochemistry and head of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge....
FRS (1994 -1996) - Prof Ray Baker CBE (1996-2002)
- Prof (now Dame) Julia GoodfellowJulia GoodfellowProfessor Dame Julia Mary Goodfellow, DBE, FMedSci, FInstP is Vice-Chancellor of the University of KentShe completed her undergraduate degree in physics at the University of Bristol and completed a PhD in biophysics at the Open University Research Unit in Oxford. She began her career at Birkbeck...
CBE (2002-2007) - Prof Douglas KellDouglas KellProfessor Douglas Bruce Kell is a British biochemist at the University of Manchester and currently Chief Executive of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council .-Education:...
(2008-present)
Governance and management
BBSRC is managed by the BBSRC Council consisting of a chairman (from 1 July 2009, Professor Sir Tom BlundellTom Blundell
Sir Tom Leon Blundell, FRS, FMedSci is a British biochemist and science administrator. Up until 2009, he was the Sir William Dunn Professor of Biochemistry and head of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Cambridge....
), a chief executive (Professor Douglas Kell
Douglas Kell
Professor Douglas Bruce Kell is a British biochemist at the University of Manchester and currently Chief Executive of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council .-Education:...
) and from ten to eighteen representatives from UK universities, government and industry. The Council approves policies, strategy, budgets and major funding.
A Strategy Advisory Board provides expert advice which BBSRC Council draws upon in making decisions. The purpose of the Strategy Advisory Board is to advise on:
- the development and implementation of the Council's strategic plans
- the competitiveness, relevance, economic impact, and societal considerations of the science and innovation activities funded by BBSRC
- opportunities for partnership with national and international organisations
Boards, panels and committees
In addition to the Council and Strategy Advisory Board, BBSRC has a series of other internal bodies for specific purposes.- Appointments Board
- Audit Board
- Institute Board
- Remuneration Board
- Strategy Panels - seven Panels advise and report to Strategy Advisory Board
- Research Committees - four Committees award research grants in specific science areas
Institutes of BBSRC
The Council strategically funds eight research institutes in the UK, and a number of centres (BBSRC: Institutes and centres).The Institutes of BBSRC are tasked with delivering innovative, world class bioscience research and training, leading to wealth and job creation, generating high returns for the UK economy. They have strong links with business, industry and the wider community, and support policy development.
The institutes' research underpins key sectors of the UK economy such as agriculture, bioenergy, biotechnology, food and drink and pharmaceuticals. In addition, the institutes maintain unique research facilities of national importance.
- Institute for Animal HealthInstitute for Animal HealthThe Institute for Animal Health is a research institute in the United Kingdom dedicated to the study of infectious diseases of farm animals. It forms part of the UK government's Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council . The institute employs many scientists and vets, along with a...
(IAH) (ComptonCompton, BerkshireCompton is a village and civil parish in the River Pang valley in the Berkshire Downs about south of Didcot. It has a population of 1,521. The Pang flows through the village as a winter bourne, a stream that only flows after periods of unusually high rainfall.-Parish church:The bell tower of the...
and PirbrightPirbrightPirbright is a village in Surrey, England. Neighbouring villages include Worplesdon, Deepcut, Brookwood and Normandy. Pirbright parish has an area of some falling into two distinct communities with the military area to the north of the railway and the village to the south...
) - Babraham InstituteBabraham InstituteThe Babraham Institute, set in an extensive parkland estate just south of Cambridge, is an independent charitable life sciences institute involved in biomedical research. The aim of this research is to discover the molecular mechanisms that underlie normal cellular processes and functions, and how...
(BI) (CambridgeCambridgeThe city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
) - The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesInstitute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesThe Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences is a department of Aberystwyth University , and is located in the town of Aberystwyth on the west coast of Wales, on Cardigan Bay. It has a remit for teaching, research as well as business innovation in the area of land use and the...
(IBERS) part of Aberystwyth University], (Aberystwyth) - Institute of Food ResearchInstitute of Food ResearchThe Institute of Food Research is one of the worlds leading agricultural and food science research institutions. It prides itself upon its wealth of research, regularly contributing to both government policies and Industry bodies as well as public relations.-History:Based in Norwich, IFR was...
(IFR) (NorwichNorwichNorwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
) - John Innes CentreJohn Innes CentreThe John Innes Centre located in Norwich, Norfolk, England is an independent centre for research and training in plant and microbial science...
(JIC) (Norwich) - The Genome Analysis CentreThe Genome Analysis CentreThe Genome Analysis Centre is located on the Norwich Research Park -History:It was established by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council in partnership with East of England Development Agency , Norfolk County Council, Norwich City Council, South Norfolk Council and the Greater...
(TGAC) (Norwich) - The Roslin Institute (RI), part of the The University of Edinburgh, (East Lothian)
- Rothamsted Research (HarpendenHarpendenHarpenden is a town in Hertfordshire, England.The town's total population is just under 30,000.-Geography and administration:There are two civil parishes: Harpenden and Harpenden Rural....
)
Other research institutes have merged with each other or with local universities. Previous BBSRC (or AFRC) sponsored institutes include:
- Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER - AberystwythAberystwythAberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
), merged with the University of Aberystwyth 2008 - The Roslin Institute (RI - EdinburghEdinburghEdinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
), merged with the University of Edinburgh 2008 - Letcombe Laboratory
- Long Ashton Research StationLong Ashton Research StationLong Ashton Research Station was an agricultural and horticultural government research centre in the village of Long Ashton near Bristol, UK...
(LARS - BristolBristolBristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
) - the Plant Breeding Institute (PBI - Cambridge)
- the Weed Research Organisation (WRO - OxfordOxfordThe city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
) - Silsoe Research InstituteSilsoeSilsoe is a village and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England.-Origin:The village name is derived from the Danish word ‘hoh’, in "Sifels hoh", meaning "Sifel’s hill". The Danes were thought to have been the earliest settlers here...
(SRI - BedfordshireBedfordshireBedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
) was closed in 2006.
External links
- Babraham Institute
- BBSRC website
- Bioscience IT Services
- Institute for Animal Health
- Institute of Food Research
- Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research
- John Innes Centre
- Research Councils UK
- Roslin
- Rothamsted Research
- Silsoe Research Institute
- The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC)
- UK Research Office (UKRO)