Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

BBSRC logo
Abbreviation BBSRC
Formation 1994 (from merger of 2 other organisations)
Type Non-Departmental Public Body
Purpose Funding of UK biological and biotechnological science research
Headquarters Polaris House,
North Star Avenue,
Swindon,
SN2 1UH
Region served
United Kingdom United Kingdom
Melanie Welham (interim)
Main organ
 BBSRC Council
Parent organization
Affiliations AHRC, EPSRC, ESRC, MRC, NERC, RCUK, STFC, TSB, UKSA
Budget
c. £509M
Website bbsrc.ac.uk

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.

Purpose

Receiving its funding through the science budget of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (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".[1]

Structure

BBSRC's head office is at Polaris House [2] in Swindon - the same building as the other Research Councils, AHRC EPSRC, ESRC, MRC, NERC, and STFC, as well as RCUK and the UKSA. Funded by Government, BBSRC invested over £509M in world-class bioscience in 2014-15. 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 Council (AFRC) and taking over the biological science activities of the former Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC).[3]

Chairs

Chief Executives

Governance and management

BBSRC is managed by the BBSRC Council consisting of a chairman (from 1 July 2009, Professor Sir Tom Blundell), a chief executive (Professor Melanie Welham) and from ten to eighteen representatives from UK universities, government and industry. The Council approves policies, strategy, budgets and major funding. On 11 February 2016, the Minister for Universities and Science, Jo Johnson, announced the appointment of Professor Melanie Welham as interim Chief Executive.[5] Professor Welham was previously Executive Director of Science at BBSRC.

A Research Panel provides expert advice which BBSRC Council draws upon in making decisions. The purpose of the Research Panel is to advise on:

Boards, panels and committees

In addition to the Council and the Research Panel, BBSRC has a series of other internal bodies for specific purposes.

Institutes of BBSRC

The Council strategically funds eight research institutes in the UK, and a number of centres (BBSRC: Institutes and centres).

The Institutes 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:

References

  1. ↑ BBSRC mission http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/organisation/mission.aspx
  2. ↑ http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=polaris+house+swindon&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Polaris+House,+N+Star+Ave,+Swindon+SN2+1UJ&gl=uk&ei=A92UTbvfEdG5hAfc9en8CA&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBoQ8gEwAA
  3. 1 2 3 "Our mission and history". BBSRC. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  4. ↑ Tom Blundell (2014). Annual Report and Accounts 2013-2014. Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. p. 2.
  5. ↑ "Prof Melanie Welham appointed BBSRC Chief Executive". GOV.UK. Retrieved 11 February 2016.

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