The Age of Bioscience

Transcription

1 UPDATED 2013/14 The Age of Bioscience Strategic Plan Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

2 The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council BBSRC is the UK s leading funder of academic research and training in the non-clinical life sciences in universities, institutes and centres. We fund internationally competitive research to improve the fundamental understanding of the biological systems upon which all human life depends. Our research spans the microbial, plant and animal kingdoms, from molecules to cells to whole organisms and populations. We also provide training in the biosciences, drive knowledge exchange and innovation, and enable public engagement around issues of societal importance. BBSRC delivers excellence with impact as part of Research Councils UK (RCUK). It is sponsored through the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). For more information on BBSRC's funding structure and governance see For further information on the international standing of the UK research base, see International Comparative Performance of the UK Research Base (BIS publication) available at performance-of-the-uk-research-base-internationalcomparison-2013 Contents The age of bioscience 1 Overview - BBSRC Strategic Plan 2 World-class bioscience 4 Strategic research priorities: 1. Agriculture and food security 6 2. Industrial biotechnology and bioenergy 9 3. Bioscience for health 12 Enabling themes: 1. Enabling innovation Exploiting new ways of working Partnerships 23 Monitoring progress, measuring success 26 Efficiency and effectiveness 27 Glossary 28 Footnotes and further reading 29 FRONT COVER IMAGE CREDIT: PASIEKA / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

3 The age of bioscience BBSRC s Vision is to lead world-class 21st century bioscience, promoting innovation in the bioeconomy, and realising benefits for society within and beyond the UK The 21st century is the age of bioscience. A biological revolution is unfolding in the same way that advances in physics shaped the early 20th century and great leaps in electronics and computing have transformed our lives over the past 40 years. New tools and technologies, advances in computation and multidisciplinary approaches are changing the way in which bioscience is undertaken. Never before have researchers generated and had access to such large data sets, and been able to explore such a range, depth and complexity of questions about living systems and how they function. BBSRC has a unique and central place in supporting the UK s world-leading position in bioscience. Our funding for research and training provides knowledge and skilled people thereby making major contributions across society and the economy by: ensuring a supply of excellent scientists into UK industry and public bodies supporting the development of new technologies that improve lives and boost the economy enabling the emergence of new companies and supporting existing ones underpinned by BBSRC research, technology, infrastructure and people helping to create centres of excellence which attract inward investment from overseas, bringing employment and income Excellent bioscience underpins and drives advances in medicine and health, green materials, new pharmaceuticals, and safe and nutritious food; it leads to more sustainable agriculture, helps to combat infectious diseases and underpins responses to climate change. In the coming decades bioscience will be at the heart of providing solutions to major challenges facing humankind such as: feeding nine billion people sustainably by 2050; developing renewable low carbon sources of energy, transport fuels and chemicals to reduce dependence on fossil fuels; staying healthier for longer as lifespans increase and society ages. Building on the UK s strength, this Strategic Plan continues to drive UK bioscience forward, exploiting new and exciting ways of working and thinking. We will ensure that UK bioscience stays world-class and delivers significant social and economic benefits. The rate of progress will depend on our future budget but support for cutting edge bioscience and skills will remain the overarching priority. ZOONAR / THINKSTOCK 2014 Light micrograph showing chloroplasts in plant cells the first rough draft of the human genome, published in 2001, was a landmark achievement, which took the concerted effort of several international laboratories more than ten years to produce. Today, draft genome sequences of this scale are generated by single laboratories in a matter of hours 1 JOHN DURHAM / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY 2014 EMBL-EBI 2014

4 Overview Overview - BBSRC Strategic Plan Working with stakeholders, BBSRC has identified leading priorities and themes that are essential to keep the UK at the cutting edge of bioscience Our future plans are structured around: World-class bioscience We will continue to advance excellent bioscience across the breadth of our remit from molecules to systems (pages 4 and 5). High-quality research, people and institutions are the bedrock of a world-class bioscience base that delivers social and economic benefits from public investment in science and attracts co-investment from the private and third sectors. Key strategic research priorities As well as our strong commitment to funding researcher-led bioscience across a broad base we highlight three priority areas for particular focus. These are uniquely at the core of our remit, where focus will have the most impact, nationally and internationally: Agriculture and food security: bioscience for sustainable and productive agriculture, supplying not only sufficient, affordable, nutritious and safe food, but also non-food products and feedstocks, in a rapidly changing world Industrial biotechnology and bioenergy: energy, industrial materials and biopharmaceuticals, developed and produced using biological processes, reducing dependency on fossil fuels and helping drive the UK bioeconomy Bioscience for health: driving advances in fundamental bioscience for better health across the lifecourse, reducing the need for medical and social intervention Enabling themes We have also prioritised three enabling themes, which are critical to our vision for UK bioscience. These cross-cutting themes will require clear actions over and beyond this planning period. Getting the themes right, and in some cases embracing the inherent culture change, is essential to deliver economic and social benefits from our investment of public money: Enabling innovation: maximising the impact of our science and skilled people in boosting the UK economy, informing policy and improving quality of life Exploiting new ways of working: enabling innovative working practices in an era of rapid technological advancement, multidisciplinary research, high throughput technologies, the next generation internet, and quantitative and computational approaches to bioscience Partnerships: working with our many stakeholders, including other funders and the public, nationally and internationally, to deliver our exciting vision for global impact from UK bioscience 2

5 BIOECONOMY INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE ECONOMIC IMPACT BETTER PUBLIC POLICY AND SERVICES SKILLED PEOPLE AND JOBS STRONG SCIENCE BASE NEW KNOWLEDGE WORLD-CLASS BIOSCIENCE Agriculture and food security Industrial biotechnology and bioenergy Bioscience for health Enabling innovation Exploiting new ways of working Systems approaches Synthetic biology Big data Tools Partnerships National and International 3

6 World-class bioscience World-class bioscience Maintaining the UK s position as a global leader UK bioscience ranks with the best in the world 1. We will keep it that way by funding high quality research and training across our remit. We will foster and support world-class institutions which are engaged internationally and have access to stateof-the-art facilities. A robust, modern and outward facing research base, which meets user and societal needs, is essential to derive the greatest impact from the public investment in science. High quality research and skills Excellent research and excellent people are cornerstones of BBSRC s strategy. We will operate flexible and efficient funding streams from small, pump-priming or proofof-concept studies through to strategic longer, larger programmes of research. Responsive mode funding continues to be a high priority, enabling us to support the best ideas from the best people, and providing vital agility to respond to emerging areas. BBSRC has a major role in supporting the training of PhD students, funding more than a quarter of all bioscience PhD students in the UK. Over 40% of BBSRC studentships are co-supported with industry. ISTOCK / THINKSTOCK 2014 Our funding for a broad range of bioscience will be balanced with an appropriate degree of focus on priorities where we can have the most impact and maintain crucial capacity. We will focus research and training through mechanisms such as highlight notices in responsive mode, Research Industry Clubs and targeted studentships. Developing and retaining a diverse community of highly skilled researchers is vital to the strength of the science base and to attracting industries and investment to the UK. We will invest in the research skills base, supporting and developing researchers throughout their careers from PhD to highlevel leadership through our studentship and fellowship programmes (page 15). Maintaining key capability - molecules to systems Since 2003 BBSRC has driven predictive, integrative and systems approaches in bioscience at a range of scales from molecules to agricultural landscapes. Our major investment has positioned the UK as a leading nation for systems biology, and this Strategic Plan develops that trajectory further (page 21). Maintaining strength in core underpinning disciplines such as molecular, chemical, cellular and structural biology is a high priority. Major breakthroughs in recent years, including those recognised by Nobel Prizes awarded to UK scientists, have depended on basic cellular and molecular research. Our strength in these disciplines also provides many of the detailed parameters that make systems modelling possible. BBSRC-funded research and training drives discovery of new leads for drugs or prevention strategies through improved understanding of biological mechanisms underlying normal growth and development. Our bioscience helps sustain the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries in the UK, where the flow of ideas, skills and key capabilities between academia and user sectors provides mutual benefit. CARDIFF UNIVERSITY 2014 Fundamental research by Professor Sir Martin Evans (Cardiff University) and colleagues led to the development of a gene knockout technology which won the Nobel Prize for Medicine/Physiology. This technique has enabled scientists to study novel aspects of mammalian physiology. DR KARI LOUNATMAA / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY MRSA bacteria

7 Key priorities Ensure UK bioscience has a broad and robust research base - strong in core disciplines, skills and infrastructure Drive excellence through researcher-led projects and programmes, giving high priority to responsive mode funding The National Plant Phenomics Centre at Aberystwyth University s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences. Research at this BBSRC-supported national centre will help to develop new plant and crop varieties to tackle global challenges such as climate change, food security and the need for better, more efficient biofuels. IBERS / ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY 2014 Balance the breadth of our research and skills funding with specific focus on strategic priority areas Support key facilities and national capabilities in institutions and promote wide research community access Ensure our funding meets the challenges of modern bioscience to deal with multidisciplinary grant applications, larger programmes of work and the development of new tools and resources World-class institutions and facilities To remain internationally competitive in bioscience, the UK must have the highest quality research environments in our universities and institutes. We provide strategic funding to eight institutes (see back cover), which provide critical national capability and expertise in strategically important areas. These are central to delivering our vision and priorities both in the short to medium term and in maintaining long-term capabilities. The institutes are also central to BBSRC s research and innovation campus strategy, supporting the UK s innovation ecosystem (page 16). BBSRC will continue to foster excellence across the university bioscience research base. Furthermore, we will build on our strategic partnerships with key universities that have strengths in our priority areas so that we can deliver advances in these areas more efficiently. Strength through partnerships We cannot achieve our ambitions for bioscience on our own. Modern bioscience is becoming increasingly big science, requiring multidisciplinary, multi-centre and multi-funder efforts. We will facilitate national and international links with the best researchers and organisations in the world to gain access to knowledge and facilities, which add value and leverage our own funding for greater impact. We will work closely with industry and other users to support the translation of BBSRC science into practical applications. Public engagement and dialogue is a vital part of our partnerships strategy (page 23). The full impact of bioscience will not be realised unless society is engaged; we will provide opportunities for learning about and discussing BBSRCfunded research. Maintain strength in core underpinning disciplines such as molecular, chemical, cellular and structural biology, as well as key strategic areas, such as plant, animal and microbial sciences, particularly where BBSRC is the main public funder Continue to stimulate wider use of multidisciplinary, systems and predictive approaches to bioscience Ensure that engagement with industry, other users and the public influences BBSRC s science strategy and capacity 5

8 Strategic research priority 1 Agriculture and food security Bioscience for sustainable and productive agriculture, supplying not only sufficient, affordable, nutritious and safe food but also non-food products and feedstocks in a rapidly changing world The challenge Global demand for food is rising, driven by factors such as population growth, increasing affluence and changing diets. At the same time there is increasing competition for land and fresh water, putting added pressure on production, while climate change will reduce the reliability of food supply, for example through altered weather patterns and increased pressure from pests and diseases. In addition to food production, there is also increasing scope for agriculture to be a major source of sustainable feedstocks for bioenergy and high value chemicals in a wider bioeconomy. Avoiding direct competition with food by better utilising agricultural waste and production from marginal land are key challenges (see also Industrial biotechnology and bioenergy). In future agriculture must produce more from the same or less land, using less water, energy and other inputs, whilst reducing waste and adverse environmental impacts including greenhouse gas emissions. Research opportunities Tackling the different but related food security challenges of the UK and developing countries will require multidisciplinary research. BBSRC will take a systems approach applying the latest bioscience and modelling at a range of scales, up to agricultural landscapes. We will support research to increase the efficiency and sustainability of crop and animal production, reduce waste in the food chain and ensure safe and nutritious diets. This includes minimising negative environmental impacts and preserving biodiversity and other ecosystem services, where partnership with NERC will be particularly important. To deliver our goals we will boost national capability in research underpinning food security and the bioeconomy through major infrastructure and facilities, and by ensuring that the UK skills base has appropriate critical mass and specialist research expertise. The BBSRC strategically funded institutes are central in our national capability. BBSRC will focus the UK s excellent plant science on challenges in sustainable crop production such as enhancing yield and quality, preventing or combating pests, diseases and weeds, and generating crops adapted to the challenges of future environments. Multidisciplinary research to maintain the essential functions of soils, and minimise inputs including energy, 2013/14 update - what s new? fertilisers and water will be important to improve the efficiency and sustainability of crop production, as will research to maintain the health of beneficial invertebrates for pollination and pest control. UK strength in animal science is crucial to sustainable food production. BBSRC will support research in areas that have profound implications for food security and food safety such as animal health and welfare, and genetics and genomics for improved production and disease resistance. Endemic and exotic diseases including zoonoses will remain key challenges, as will new and emerging infections, increasing resistance to antimicrobials, and maintaining gut health. There is a need to develop new epidemiological approaches to investigate disease spread, and new diagnostic tools. BBSRC will also support the development of next generation vaccines, building on the Greater recognition that productive, competitive and sustainable agriculture is essential for both food and non-food uses in a wider bioeconomy Reflection of the need to gain a deeper understanding of the concept of sustainable intensification in agriculture. Additional emphasis on tackling key challenges for livestock health and welfare, such as understanding antimicrobial resistance and developing next generation vaccines Commitment to BBSRC s role in delivering the UK Strategy for Agricultural Technologies, to ensure that the UK s world-leading agricultural research is translated into practice. 6

9 Case study: Vaccines Scientists at the University of Oxford / Diamond Light Source, University of Reading and The Pirbright Institute have developed a new, safer methodology for producing a vaccine for foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). FMDV is one of the most economically important diseases in livestock worldwide. ISTOCK / THINKSTOCK 7

10 Strategic research priority 1 strengths of the UK research base in immunology and infectious animal diseases, and the opportunities arising from taking a One Health approach, in partnership with the MRC, to the support of multidisciplinary studies that underpin improvements in both human and animal health. As well as livestock and poultry, we will promote research underpinning food production from aquaculture, where there is a need to increase the diversity of species that are used, improve fish health, and develop sustainable sources of feed for farmed fish. Food security is a complex issue encompassing international trade, aid, transport, economics and social science. BBSRC will continue to play a leading role in the multi-funder, multidisciplinary Global Food Security research programme 2 drawing together partners across RCUK, the Technology Strategy Board, government departments and devolved Governments for greater coordination of funders around shared strategic objectives. The programme provides leadership, enhances synergy, and acts as a focus for attracting greater private and third sector investment. As recognised in the UK Strategy for Agricultural Technologies 3, there is a need to accelerate the translation of research into practice for food and non-food products as a key element of the bioeconomy. We will tackle this working closely with many partners to implement the strategy, particularly the Technology Strategy Board, in establishing the Agri-technology Catalyst and Centres for Agricultural Innovation, which will serve to align academic research more effectively with industry needs, and increase translational skills. Key priorities Work closely with the Technology Strategy Board and Agri-Tech Leadership Council to implement the UK Strategy for Agricultural Technologies, accelerating the translation of research into practice Address skills shortages in areas of specialist research expertise and translational skills, working with industry, learned societies and other stakeholders Continue to build international partnerships and joint funding for agriculture and food security research and to lead key global research programmes in Wheat and Nitrogen fertiliser use Tackle long-term research challenges that offer a step-change in crop production, such as nitrogen fixation, water and other resource use efficiency, or enhancing photosynthesis Improve understanding of the concept of sustainable intensification in agriculture and the enabling role that BBSRC funded research, skills and capability must play Coordinate a major programme on veterinary vaccinology to accelerate research into next generation vaccines to combat major diseases of livestock Case study: Combating disease Scientists at Rothamsted Research have identified two genes in wheat crucial to resisting infection by the disease Septoria leaf blotch, paving the way for the development of molecular approaches to combat the disease in the future. Increase understanding of the drivers and mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in order to reduce its impact on animal and human health 8 ISTOCK / THINKSTOCK 2014

11 Strategic research priority 2 Industrial biotechnology and bioenergy Energy, industrial materials and biopharmaceuticals, developed and produced using biological processes, reducing dependency on fossil fuels and helping drive the UK bioeconomy The challenge Positioning the UK as a low carbon economy, and meeting international targets for reducing emissions, requires a transformation to more economically and environmentally sustainable ways of producing and using energy, transport fuels, chemicals and industrial feedstocks. Industrial biotechnology offers novel solutions through the use of biological processes derived from plants, bacteria, algae and fungi as sources of renewable energy, materials and chemicals from which business investments in the bioeconomy will create new opportunities and employment in the UK, leading to economic growth. Research underpinning industrial biotechnology and bioenergy is a high priority for BBSRC. Working with industry, other Research Councils and the Technology Strategy Board, we will fund the bioscience, tools and skills to advance industrial biotechnology and bioenergy, and particularly to understand the molecular and cellular basis of key biosynthetic processes and their regulation in a range of organisms and manufacturing environments. This knowledge will then be applied to model and improve production of novel and biorenewable chemicals and materials. Genetic modification and the emerging methods in synthetic biology are crucial tools in tailoring organisms for industrial biotechnology applications. A major target for research is to convert the complex carbohydrates locked up in plant cell walls (lignocellulose) ultimately into replacements for hydrocarbon-based products and intermediates, including liquid fuels such as petrol, diesel and aviation fuel. Capitalising on the strength of UK plant and microbial science, and the success of the BBSRC Sustainable Bioenergy Centre, we will support research to improve the efficiency of crop production for biomass (maintaining or improving production but with reduced inputs of energy, fertiliser, agrichemicals and water), optimise yield and composition of biomass, and develop new knowledge and tools to help break down plant biomass to provide substrates for conversion into biofuels and other Research opportunities Increasing the use of biorenewables in products, processes and industrial feedstocks is a complex economic, environmental, technical, social and policy challenge. There is an urgent need to expand the range, efficiency and cost effectiveness of biorenewables manufacture. Working with key partners such as the Technology Strategy Board and EPSRC, we will invest in research that takes a whole system perspective, from feedstock production through to processes and products. Our funding will apply the tools of modern molecular, cellular and structural biology, systems approaches and bioprocess engineering to develop a range of options for the use of novel crops, products, processes and sustainable biorenewable solutions. 2013/14 update - what s new? Increased emphasis on the broader applications of industrial biotechnology in addition to renewable energy, including chemical feedstocks, industrial raw materials and intermediates, and high value chemicals and biopharmaceuticals New plans to support the development of a cohesive industrial biotechnology research community in the UK, highly engaged with industry Greater recognition of the role of BBSRC, working with others, in supporting the growth of the UK bioeconomy by encouraging the translation of excellent research closer to application 9

12 Strategic research priority 2 Case study: Industrial biotechnology Researchers at the University of Nottingham have devised a battery of proprietary gene technologies which are now being employed to enhance the productivity of bacterial strains in the large-scale production of chemical commodities and transport fuels from renewable plant biomass. 10 S.MARTIN / TMO RENEWABLES LTD

13 Key priorities products. Approaches that make use of waste residues from food crops, or nonfood crops that can be grown on marginal land, and thus do not compete with food production, are particularly important here. Algae and microbes offer other potential routes to chemicals and biofuels; chemical biology coupled with cellular and molecular biology, genetics and modelling will provide knowledge to help increase the accumulation and/or secretion of target hydrocarbons, and diversify the options available to produce these chemicals at industrial scale. Further opportunities lie in the use of alternative feedstocks, including municipal waste, syngas, and industrial waste such as CO 2, and approaches that integrate thermochemical and biological waste conversion technologies. We will also focus on research underpinning biopharmaceutical production and manufacture, building on the investment and expertise from the Bioprocessing Research Industry Club (BRIC). Other countries, particularly the USA and Brazil, have made substantial public investments in bioenergy. We will work with international partners to benefit UK researchers and leverage BBSRC s investment, enabling us to tackle largescale challenges that are difficult or too costly to do alone. With its strong science base the UK is well placed to be a world-leader in industrial biotechnology and bioenergy research, with benefits not only in generating high quality green products and services, but also boosting the economy through the manufacture of biorenewable products as attractive alternatives to petrochemical products. Position the UK as a recognised centre for industrial biotechnology and bioenergy (IBBE) research by establishing a range of academicled IBBE networks to engage with business and other stakeholders In collaboration with the Technology Strategy Board, establish the Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst to support the translation of research that is led by industry or academia Lead the bioenergy element of the RCUK Energy programme by generating the knowledge and skills to inform a range of sustainable, low carbon bioenergy solutions Apply synthetic biology, systems biology and modelling to tackle industrial biotechnology and bioenergy research challenges at a range of scales and addressing a variety of feedstocks 3D structure of a cellulase enzyme (blue), solved at the Diamond Light Source, interacting with the cellulose substrate (green). JOHN MCGEEHAN / UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH 2014 Further enhance UK capacity in bioenergy and biopharmaceuticals processing research by building on our successful investments in the BBSRC Sustainable Bioenergy Centre and the Bioprocessing Research Industry Club Strengthen links and joint working with international partners, particularly Europe, Japan and Brazil, to seek leverage for UK investments and to enhance translation Case study: Biofuels Scientists from the University of York, University of Portsmouth, and the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory have discovered a new enzyme, used by tiny marine wood-borers called 'gribble' to break down wood, that could help inform the development of industrial processes to turn waste materials, such as paper, scrap wood and straw, into liquid fuel. Continue to explore societal issues associated with bioenergy and industrial biotechnology, e.g. through public dialogue and our Networks in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy. Explore options for delivering impact from industrial biotechnology and bioenergy research, in particular through BBSRC-associated Research and Innovation campuses 11

14 Strategic research priority 3 Bioscience for health Driving advances in fundamental bioscience for better health across the lifecourse, reducing the need for medical and social intervention The challenge We are in a period of unprecedented demographic change, with the proportion of older people in the population increasing such that by 2050, 40% of the UK population will be over 50, and 25% over 65. Whilst lifespan is increasing, healthspan is not lengthening at the same rate. Basic bioscience understanding and its effective translation is key to increasing the ability of individuals to lead healthier lives over their lifecourse, reducing pressure on the healthcare system. Research opportunities Basic bioscience is vital to reveal the biological mechanisms underlying normal physiology and homeostatic control during early development and across the lifespan. We aim to achieve a deep, integrated understanding of the healthy system at multiple levels, and of the factors that maintain health and wellness under stress and biological or environmental challenge. This includes research to improve our understanding of how the ageing process itself results in increased frailty and loss of adaptability in areas such as musculoskeletal, brain, immune and sensory systems, and the gastrointestinal tract, as well as to increase our understanding of the regulatory networks underlying biological rhythms. A key research goal is to develop a greater awareness of the roles of nutrition and physical activity and the mechanisms by which they affect development and health. Given the complex nature of these relationships, systems approaches are well suited to modelling the interplay over the lifecourse between the GI tract, nutrition, food properties, microbiome, endocrinology and metabolic regulation. This includes interdisciplinary approaches to understanding the influence of behaviour and environmental interactions on health, in partnership with ESRC and other Research Councils. Knowledge of how food interacts with the body is also highly relevant to the breeding of animals and plants for food production (see also Strategic research priority 1: Agriculture and food security). Multidisciplinary research across areas such as stem cells, engineering and materials chemistry is needed for the development of new regenerative biology and tissue engineering applications to improve quality of life for the ageing population. 2013/14 update - what s new? In partnership with the MRC and EPSRC we will continue to support the UK Regenerative Medicine Platform. We will also support multidisciplinary studies that underpin improvements in both human and animal health. We will encourage collaboration between experts in human and veterinary sciences to improve the health and wellbeing of animals and humans in the context of One Health, particularly in vaccinology, infections of zoonotic origin, vector borne diseases and understanding antimicrobial resistance, linking into our Agriculture and food security priority. Partnership between BBSRC and the MRC in this area will help to ensure impacts and added value are realised across the interface with medical research. Increased emphasis on addressing the societal grand challenge of maintaining health across the whole lifecourse Increased prominence for research that will provide a better understanding of the mechanisms by which nutrition impacts on development and health Greater focus on the opportunities to support multidisciplinary studies that underpin improvements in both human and animal health and wellbeing Relocation of aspects of biopharmaceutical development (e.g. bioprocessing) to Strategic research priority 2: Industrial biotechnology and bioenergy Recognition of the need to support the translation of basic bioscience, and of the role of key partnerships to deliver impact 12

15 Case study: Gut health Researchers at IFR have shown that some bacterial strains are specifically adapted to use sugars in the gut lining to aid colonisation. Understanding how different bacteria make use of these sugars will give new insights into what makes a healthy gut bacteria population. 13 STEPHANIE SCHÜLLER, UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA / IFR 2014

16 Strategic research priority 3 Key priorities Case study: Regenerative biology A new technique, which could soon be used to heal shattered limbs, has been developed at the Universities of Edinburgh and Southampton. The technique involves the use of bone stem cells combined with a new lightweight degradable plastic that inserts into broken bones and encourages bone to re-grow. Over time, the plastic slowly degrades as the implant is replaced by newly grown bone. We will support bioscience research to help sustain lifelong health and wellbeing in the modern environment by building on a foundation of underpinning world class bioscience to identify novel prevention strategies or underpin new treatments. BBSRC will work closely with the MRC and other Research Councils to promote a joinedup approach to research funding across the spectrum from health to disease. Basic bioscience funded by BBSRC underpins the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, which depend significantly on the strength of the public sector research base to maintain competitive advantage. This is especially so in the discovery and validation of new therapeutic agents and bioactive molecules, reducing cost of development and increasing efficiency of production. For example, integrated modelling of cells, tissues and associated signalling mechanisms will provide new insights to potential strategies for health monitoring and intervention, including drug targets and pharmaceuticals. In the longer term, the further refinement of virtual human metabolic networks will provide even greater increases in the efficiency of therapeutic design and development. Our funding for research and training also supports open innovation in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and emerging digital health sectors by providing expertise and skills within leading universities and research institutions, and through exploration of new collaborative models and access to resources. ISTOCK / THINKSTOCK 2014 Generate new knowledge of the biological mechanisms of development and the maintenance of health across the lifecourse Support greater use of resources and data from cohort studies, biobanks and longitudinal monitoring to increase the translation of research from model organisms and systems to the human population Improve understanding of how nutrition affects health across the lifecourse, including dietary exposure, epigenetics, and mechanisms of gut function Generate new knowledge to advance regenerative biology, including stem cell and tissue engineering research, and accelerate the translation into applications Support the multidisciplinary RCUK programme on Lifelong Health and Wellbeing, ensuring that outcomes are translated to improve quality of life Develop and apply new tools in areas such as chemical biology, high resolution structural analysis, omics, biomarkers and bioimaging, high throughput and comparative genomics and modelling Support fundamental research that requires collaboration between veterinary and human medicine to improve the health and wellbeing of animals and humans in the context of One Health Promote new ways of working to accelerate the translation of basic bioscience to benefit the health of the population across all stages of life 14

17 Enabling theme 1 Enabling innovation Maximising the impact of our science and skilled people in boosting the UK economy, informing policy and improving quality of life ISTOCK / THINKSTOCK 2014 BBSRC is working to maximise the social and economic benefit of the research it funds. We will achieve this in partnership with other Research Councils and the Technology Strategy Board by supporting the development of key skills in our scientists, increasing our understanding of users needs, supporting impact and innovation from research, and promoting knowledge exchange and translation. We will also drive culture change so that the bioscience community recognises and optimises the impacts of research, to benefit the economy and the public good. Skills and capabilities Highly skilled researchers are vital for a strong science base, and for attracting and supporting knowledge-intensive industries and investment in the UK. We have particular responsibility for the skills base around our three strategic research priorities, and will foster innovative public-private sector training partnerships (through our industrial training strategy) to address skills and career vulnerabilities in these areas. Modern bioscience often involves the co-ordination of large, multidisciplinary research teams and interactions with a variety of project partners and stakeholders. BBSRC will support high-quality PhD training to ensure new researchers develop the necessary breadth of skills, including leadership and management, the ability to communicate research outputs and ethical awareness. We will promote understanding of knowledge exchange and the wider opportunities for engagement through professional internships for students. It is not only PhD students that require broad-based training; all early-career researchers must develop a range of skills. We will drive culture change in the employment of postdoctoral researchers to support their career development and movement between sectors. Research Industry Clubs are highly successful in delivering strategic research and skills needed to drive growth in major industrial sectors. The Bioprocessing Research Industry Club (BRIC) skills development school, devised by BRIC industrial members, enables PhD students and post-doctoral scientists to learn industrially-relevant skills and develop commercial awareness, helping to train the next generation of bioprocessing researchers. BBSRC will continue to encourage interdisciplinary research and training, recognising that many of the most exciting advances in biology will occur at interfaces with other disciplines. As bioscience becomes increasingly quantitative, there is also an urgent need to raise the mathematical and computational skills of biologists at all levels. Strong links between research and teaching are crucial in attracting the best students into research careers. BBSRC will explore schemes to raise the profile of research in undergraduate degrees, and engage more at school level to ensure that students are equipped with the practical and mathematical skills required for higher education in science and related subjects. Knowledge exchange and translation BBSRC has a responsibility to support successful translation of ideas, knowledge, skills and technology arising from research into practical applications that benefit the UK economy and society. The time-course from basic research to application can be long (often more than 10 years) and the routes to application are often diffuse and diverse. There is also evidence that ideas are sometimes not matured sufficiently within the research context to ensure successful translation. BBSRC, in partnership with other funders, will develop a better understanding of the various routes and barriers to translation in different sectors. We will seek to deliver innovative solutions, focusing not only on intellectual property but more broadly on intellectual assets. We will also increase 15

18 Enabling theme 1 support for people in translational roles, and develop enterprise skills in researchers. Successful translation requires a two-way flow of knowledge and expertise between academia and users of research. We will use existing and new mechanisms to enhance knowledge exchange, in particular to encourage movement of people. Promoting innovation BBSRC sustains a high quality research base that supports innovation in important UK business sectors including agriculture, food & drink, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, chemicals and biotechnology. Discovery and production activities in these industries depend on scientific advances in the academic community. BBSRC seeks to understand the most critical bioscience challenges facing industry and create opportunities for engagement between academia and industry. This ensures that the research and training we fund promote innovation and generate impact. We will increase the range and depth of our interactions with business, building on successful partnership models such as our Research Industry Clubs but also exploring new opportunities and mechanisms for joint working. We will also work to develop, and promote internationally, the UK research and innovation campuses associated with the BBSRC strategically-funded institutes, building on the successes seen at the Babraham Research Campus and Norwich Research Park. These approaches to supporting the interaction between academia and industry contribute significantly to the UK innovation ecosystem. In partnership with other bodies such as the Technology Strategy Board, we seek to ensure that innovation can flow effectively between all parties within this ecosystem, bringing together the research base, SMEs, large companies and other partners, with the objective of supporting innovation from UK bioscience, leading to impact through these businesses and value chains. Culture change BBSRC is driving significant culture change in encouraging and recognising a broad range of impacts from bioscience research. We intend to build on this by developing innovative ways to capture, reward and celebrate impact. The benefits will include fostering meaningful public and schools engagement, as well as generating excitement about the social and economic value of research, and the contribution made by bioscience. (see also page 24: Engaging with society) We will develop incentives and rewards that are applicable across all types of research organisations, and which recognise achievements at individual and institutional levels. We will also engage with the implementation of the Research Excellence Framework (REF), to ensure that this framework drives a culture change in the recognition of the wider impacts arising from research. Case study: Translation Building on basic research undertaken during a BBSRC David Phillips Fellowship, Dr Andrew Almond (University of Manchester) developed a new computational technology to improve the efficiency of drug discovery by speeding up the screening of new compounds. A BBSRC/ RSE Enterprise Fellowship and two BBSRC Follow-on Fund awards enabled Dr Almond and his spin-out company C4X Discovery to commercialise his platform technology. In 2012, AstraZeneca signed an agreement to use C4X Discovery s technology across their pre-clinical drug discovery programme. DR ANDREW ALMOND / C4X DISCOVERY 2014 Computer model of the structure of the Lisinopril drug molecule, used primarily to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) 16

19 BBSRC has established the Innovator of the Year, Activating Impact and Excellence with Impact awards to encourage a culture change in the recognition of impacts arising from research. Dr Ryan Donnelly was named BBSRC Innovator of the Year 2013 for his work developing hydrogel-based microneedles for drug delivery and non-invasive blood monitoring. Key priorities Strengthen the wider skills of scientists at all levels and explore opportunities to further develop these skills by spending time outside of academic research Prioritise training of bioscience researchers, particularly around our three strategic priorities and in the development of mathematical and computational skills Develop the BBSRC-associated research and innovation campuses, driving economic growth, impact and innovation from bioscience Underpin the research needs of business by supporting Research Industry Clubs and other innovative models for working with business With the Technology Strategy Board and others, support translation of bioscience to commercial application, further strengthening the UK innovation ecosystem and enabling connectedness between the research base, SMEs and larger companies Ensure that ideas and technologies are incubated for sufficient time within the research base to enable effective translation, including through enhanced Follow-on Fund schemes Enhance opportunities for the exchange of knowledge, technology and people between the science base and user communities Recognise, reward and disseminate the impact of bioscience research and translation and help to embed this culture change in the bioscience community TIM GANDER

20 Enabling theme 2 Exploiting new ways of working Enabling innovative working practices in an era of rapid technological advancement, multidisciplinary research, high throughput technologies, the next generation internet, and quantitative and computational approaches to bioscience Cutting-edge bioscience is critically dependent on the availability of modern and sustainable research infrastructure and the adoption of new ways of working. New tools and capabilities will continue to revolutionise bioscience, making it possible to ask and solve previously intractable questions and inspiring major breakthroughs. BBSRC will continue to support developments in tools, technologies and approaches that enable researchers to push the boundaries of scientific discovery and increase the impact of their research. New tools and facilities Multidisciplinary research in areas such as bioimaging, omics technologies and biomolecular characterisation advances knowledge in bioscience. We will promote technology development, strengthen the associated skills base and embed the latest equipment in facilities. The Institutes and The ELIXIR Technical Hub at the European Bioinformatics Institute, opened in 2013, forms part of a pan-european infrastructure for the sharing and analysis of the vast quantities of biological data, which is essential in tackling the serious challenges our society faces, from providing healthcare to an ageing population to sustainable production of food and energy. EMBL-EBI 2014 Centres we support play an important role in providing access to the specialist facilities our strategy demands. For example, the large-scale redevelopment of The Pirbright Institute will provide the UK with worldclass high-containment facilities for animal health research. The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC) provides national capability in genomics and bioinformatics for the development and application of sequencing in animals, plants and non-medical microbes. Low-cost, high-speed, next-generation sequencing will fundamentally change the range and depth of questions that bioscientists can address. BBSRC will continue, with other funders, to build on commitment to the Diamond Light Source and previous investment in structural biology to support cutting-edge research on interactions between biomolecules. Data-driven biology Biological discovery is increasingly being driven by ground-breaking technologies, such as high-throughput genomic and proteomic analysis and next generation biological imaging, that generate massive and complex datasets. In order to investigate complex biological phenomena, researchers need access to comprehensive, integrated and interoperable data resources, built to community-accepted standards. To meet these challenges, BBSRC will strengthen investment in bioinformatics and biological resources, focusing on the needs of the research community, and facilitating the development of sustainable models of operation. We will stimulate data-driven biology and data reuse and promote open data initiatives, including supporting data reusability through improved, and greater uptake of, standards. We will support development of compute (and software) resources for large-scale data analysis, e.g. genome assembly, metagenomics, real-time image analysis. We will also continue to shape and support the ELIXIR project to establish a sustainable infrastructure for biological information in Europe, as well as working with other Research Councils on the provisioning and sustainability of cross-cutting e-infrastructure such as sustaining software. A further challenge lies in bridging the gap between hardware architectures and the researchers generating biological data. We will target potential new user communities, hardware architectures and facilities including cloud, and biologist-friendly software solutions. 18

21 Case study: New technologies BBSRC-funded research at Cambridge University on DNA chemistry led to a high-speed DNA sequencing company, Solexa, which sold for $600M in The impact of this funding extends beyond commercial benefit; this new technology generated a step change in the production of biological data. 19 PHOTODISC / THINKSTOCK 2014