BBSRC future research prioritiesBBSRC future research priorities

Professor Nigel BrownDirector of Science and Technology Group

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STAKEHOLDERS

• INDUSTRY: agriculture, food, chemical, health, pharmaceutical

• PUBLIC: dialogue and consultation

• GOVERNMENT: e.g. DEFRA, FSA, RCUK

Why? Quality of Lifeand UK plc

Biotechnology and Biological Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research CouncilSciences Research Council

BBSRC funding totals around £340M p.a.

MISSION

• Fund first-class bioscience research

• Train bioscientists

• Support knowledge transfer

• Engage with public

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““Mixed economy” of BBSRC fundingMixed economy” of BBSRC funding

Universities• basic research• curiosity-driven• shorter-term

funding• research training

Institutes• strategic research• mission-oriented• longer-term funding• specialist facilities

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Funding – commitment 07/08 Funding – commitment 07/08

Institute Core Grant [18% ]

Training and Fellowships

[10% ] Directed Initiatives

[8% ]

Responsive mode Grants

[44% ]

Institute capital and

restructuring [12% ]

KT and Innovation

[3% ]

Large facilities [1% ]

Administration [3% ]

Council decides overarching division of funding when developing Delivery Plan

Budget £381.9m

Source – BBSRC 2004 Delivery Plan. Figures include FEC

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Science Panels & Committees Science Panels & Committees

HealthyOrganism

Integrative& Systems

Biology 

SustainableAgriculture

  

Tools &Resources

  

Biosciencefor Industry

Biosciencefor Society

  

Studentships &

Fellowships

 

Panels

Strategy Board

Council

Agri-Food Animal Sciences

Biochemistry& Cell

Biology

BiomolecularSciences

Engineering& Biological

Systems

Genes &Development

Biology

Plant &MicrobialSciences

Research Committees

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Ten Year Vision and Strategic PlanTen Year Vision and Strategic Plan

REF

RES

HED

200

5-06

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Excellent ScienceExcellent Science

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Some highlights of the SR2004 allocationsSome highlights of the SR2004 allocations

• 4% p.a increase in responsive mode funding over 3 years.

• 3% p.a. average increase in Institute CSG over 3 years.

• £16M for development of new tools and resources.

• £25M in integrative and systems biology.

• £8M to promote the transfer of understanding of basic plant science to crop research.

• £6M in animal health and welfare research.

• 80% of new PhD awards in 2006/07 will be 4-year flexible awards.

– All figures pre-fEC

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Building a healthier UK bioscience baseBuilding a healthier UK bioscience base

• Increase responsive mode funding

• Embed systems biology in the UK SEB

• Establish a funding stream for large and longer programmes

• Fund more research at the interface with Physical Sciences, Maths and Engineering

• Establish mechanisms for funding Tools and Resources in the Biosciences

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BBSRC Reviews: horizon-scanningBBSRC Reviews: horizon-scanning

• Crop Science

• Farm Animal Genetics and Genomics

• Microbial Science

• Bioenergy

• Biosecurity

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BBSRC InstitutesBBSRC Institutes

• Babraham Institute

• Institute for Animal Health

• Institute of Food Research

• Institute for Grassland & Environmental Research

• John Innes Centre

– Arabidopsis genome project, led by John Innes Centre

• Roslin Institute

– Dolly the sheep cloned at Roslin Institute

• Rothamsted Research

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Science and Innovation StrategyScience and Innovation Strategy

• Delivery Plan published Autumn 2005

• Look at science across Institutes rather than at individual institutions

• Iterations of strategy with Institutes, Strategy Board and Council

• Institute Strategy published December 2005

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3 Key Strategic Areas of Research3 Key Strategic Areas of Research

• Sustainable agriculture and land use [including plant and microbial science]

- RRes, IGER and JIC

• Animal health and welfare- IAH and RI

• Biomedical [including cell biology, diet and health]

- BI and IFR

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