July BBSRCbusiness 2008 the quarterly magazine of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Contents July 2008 BBSRC The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is the UK’s principal funder of basic and strategic biological research. This covers topics such as: genomics, molecular biology, cell biology and bionanotechnology that provide a basis for new technologies in the healthcare, food safety, plant and livestock breeding, and bio-processing sectors; whole organism biology relevant to our 5 6 12 7 understanding of diet and health, ageing, animal health and welfare, infectious diseases business and immunity, and crop productivity; and biological populations and systems that Chief Executive’s column 2 Diversity 7 Major UK funders publish common support agricultural sustainability, biodiversity Achieving a diverse research community in BBSRC rules for animal research 15 and novel bio-based processes in Bioscience:Biomillions 3 New guidelines published through the National manufacturing. Mission to Brazil 11 Showcasing the economic and social impact Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and We help to ensure that the UK has the high calibre of our research Discussions on sustainable biotechnology, including Reduction of Animals in Research scientists and the research infrastructure to remain biofuels, as part of the UK-Brazil Year of Science Mathematics as a tool to defeat a world leader in the biological sciences. We and Innovation New Research Complex at Harwell 16 encourage knowledge transfer from research into plant and animal diseases 4 A major initiative to bring together the life and BBSRC-sponsored research at the Royal Flying in the face of change 12-13 business and policy applications and we foster physical sciences in one building public dialogue about advances in research and Society Summer Exhibition The dramatic impacts of climate change on aphids their implications. BBSRC And finally…… inside back cover Sheffield spin-out wins additional Raising the media profile of the New tests for farm animal diseases For further information visit: www.bbsrc.ac.uk investment for novel therapeutic biosciences 14 The views expressed in articles in BBSRC proteins 6 How BBSRC supports its researchers in talking with the media business are those of the authors, and do The story of Asterion Ltd and its versatile not necessarily represent the views of the therapeutic platform technology Biotechnology and Biological Sciences 16 Research Council. Data protection If you receive your copy of BBSRC business by post (rather than, for example, through an internal International honour Nobel Peace Prize winners distribution system at your place of work) details of your name and address are held on our mailing list database. If at any time you would like your details Professors Keith Goulding and John Innes Centre scientist to be removed from our database, please contact David Powlson and Dr Andy Whitmore from Professor Caroline Dean OBE FRS has been us and we will do so. Rothamsted Research are three of the elected as a Foreign Associate of the USA’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Comments and enquiries National Academy of Sciences for her Change (IPCC) scientists awarded a share excellence in original scientific research. should be addressed to the editor: of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Their This is one of the highest scientific honours Catharine Stott longstanding research to understand soil given in the USA, with only 18 Foreign BBSRC, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, processes such as carbon cycling, was Associates elected worldwide each year. Swindon SN2 1UH recognised with certificates acknowledging Caroline’s lab has worked on the molecular Tel: 01793 414695. Fax: 01793 413382 their significant contributions to the Panel’s and genetic basis of vernalisation and the Email: [email protected] work. The Panel shares the 2007 Nobel way plants are able to time when they flower. Next issue - October 2008 Peace Prize with former US Deputy This world-leading research has influenced President Al Gore. the whole of biology. She is the sole female http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/la UK-based scientist elected this year, and is ureates/2007/ the third scientist from the institute to receive BBSRC is part of the Research Councils the honour. “This is a reflection of the UK partnership. international regard for our top research,” commented Professor Chris Lamb FRS, Andy Whitmore, David Powlson Director of the John Innes Centre. and Keith Goulding. Cover: The surface of a growth hormone shown in intimate contact with residues from two receptors (see page 6). Credit Courtesy of Asterion. BBSRCbusiness BBSRCbusiness Chief Executive‘s column Bioscience : Biomillions showcasing the economic and social The way ahead impact of our research In May, BBSRC held a successful event at HM Treasury called ‘Bioscience: In May, around a hundred invited guests, including Biomillions’, which showcased the contribution of our research to innovation parliamentarians, officials from HM Treasury and other and the UK economy (see opposite). government departments, and leading figures from the bio-business and research communities, joined us to We were delighted that Ian Pearson MP, Minister for recent announcement of a LINK award with the Home Grown celebrate the success of UK bioscience research. Science and Innovation, gave two hours from his crowded Cereals Authority. Through this we will support research at schedule to meet the researchers and discuss their science. the John Innes Centre into substituting mineral oil with I am grateful to all those from the research and business rapeseed oil to reduce the lubricants industry’s carbon footprint. The event, ‘Bioscience:Biomillions’ communities who took part. Everyone is busy; but coming I am confident that examples such as these will increase as highlighted the research outcomes by around 50 leading together like this from time to time is important. However many we expand our collaborative research with industry and the UK scientists. Examples ranged from a new screening times we say that the continuing strength of UK bioscience economic and social impact of our research. technology of carbohydrate-protein interactions, relevant to Speakers at ‘Bioscience:Biomillions’: BBSRC Interim Chief Executive Steve depends on coherent and mutually supportive approaches by Later this year, Professor Nigel Brown moves to the development of novel glycotherapeutics, to environmentally- government, funders, industry and academia, nothing can Visscher; Council member and Senior Vice President of GlaxoSmithKline, University of Edinburgh to become Vice-Principal and Head Professor Jackie Hunter; Ian Pearson MP, Minister of State for Science and substitute for face to face communication. It enables us to take friendly solvents for bio-processing and to commercial forage of the College of Science and Engineering, and Dr Doug Innovation; and BBSRC Chairman Dr Peter Ringrose. stock and ‘see the bigger picture’, and to explore new and turf grasses. Yarrow retires as BBSRC Director of Corporate Science. opportunities for networking and collaborations. Ian Pearson MP, Minister of State for Science and On behalf of BBSRC I wish them both well. Each has As our Chairman, Dr Peter Ringrose, said in his address, innovation, spent two hours touring the displays and contributed enormously to the Council’s success and in a particularly important feature of the major economic and discussing the science. In his address, he emphasised the developing our vision of ever stronger bioscience in the UK. social impacts showcased is that they derive from world importance to UK global competitiveness of researchers Finally I take this opportunity to welcome the new class fundamental science. The researchers whose work we continuing to maximise the economic and social impacts BBSRC Chief Executive, Professor Douglas Kell, who takes highlighted are those who also attend international science of their activities. Professor Jackie Hunter, Senior Vice up his post on 1 October. We all very much look forward to conferences. There need be no conflict between academic President of GlaxoSmithKline and a member of BBSRC working with him as we develop our strategy for 2009-2014. excellence and translating outputs into commercial and other Council described the importance of a strong research base I have been privileged to serve as Interim Chief Executive outcomes. Over the last decade this message has gained in fundamental bioscience to the pharmaceutical and related since September 2007 and wish to covey my thanks to the wider acceptance across the research community. However, business sectors. In his remarks, BBSRC Chairman, Dr Peter many people throughout BBSRC and our wider community there are still those who seem reluctant to recognise it. Ringrose stressed the synergy in promoting scientific who have provided me with excellent support. We must continue to demonstrate the mutual benefits excellence and knowledge transfer, and BBSRC’s commitment to increase its activities to increase the impact that accrue from academics working closely with industry Steve Visscher Dr Stefan Przybrorski, Director of the neural stem cell research spin-out company and other end-users of their research. Interim Chief Executive of the research it funds. ReInnervate Limited (left), talks to Ian Pearson MP, Steve Visscher and Dr Ian This mutuality is easy to see. Last month, the Gibson, MP, a member of the Innovation, Universities