Research key to UK bioscience

With rapid advances in technology—particularly imaging—and new ways of working, biology is centre stage in tackling the big challenges facing the world: not only in the fight to promote healthier lives and combat disease but also in finding new sources of renewable energy, creating new materials, and developing sustainable agricultural systems capable of feeding the world’s rapidly expanding population.

Impact

• Interdisciplinary working: knowledge and expertise from across the sciences, engineering, and the wider research community support scientific solutions
• Health impact: biological, chemical, physical and medical scientists collaborate to understand the structure of proteins, an area of science that could lead to more effective cancer treatments, in understanding health or creating materials

Key information

• Major funders: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Global Challenges Research Fund.
• Disciplines: bioscience, microscopy, environment
• Investigators: Dr Andy Ross, Dr Rebecca Thompson, Dr Julie Aspden, Dr Juan Fontana, Professor Lisa Collins

Keywords: molecular biology, cellular biology, microscopes, food systems, farming, energy, plantlife, disease, health