Reappointment of Chief Executive for the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
David Willetts said: “I am very pleased that Professor Kell has agreed to remain at the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council…
David Willetts said:
“I am very pleased that Professor Kell has agreed to remain at the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council for an additional year. He has contributed significantly to the Council’s important work to keep the UK at the very forefront of bioscience and will continue to play a key leadership role.”
BBSRC Chair Professor Tom Blundell said:
“Professor Kell’s leadership has ensured that BBSRC continues to deliver impact both in the UK and abroad. The significant progress that has been made during his time at BBSRC has seen research priorities focussed to maximise the social and economic benefits from investments, national bioscience capability continue to grow, and new beneficial alliances forged. It is excellent news that we will have Professor Kell on board as we continue to lay important milestones in this age of bioscience.”
Professor Kell said:
“It is an exciting time for BBSRC and I am proud of the achievements that the Council has made since I became Chief Executive. In the last year alone we have seen substantial investments for important projects that will shape the future of bioscience, such as the recent £250 million investment in the first phase of five-year strategic investment programmes, and substantial capital investment boosting infrastructure and expanding facilities. This goes hand in hand with the significant scientific breakthroughs that have been made during this time. I am delighted that my appointment has been extended to allow me to continue to drive the 2010-2015 strategic plan and to ensure that BBSRC continues to play a vital role in maintaining the UK’s premier position in bioscience.”
The appointment is until 30 September 2013.
**Notes to editors
**1. BBSRC promotes and supports the highest-quality basic, strategic and applied research and related postgraduate training relating to the understanding and exploitation of biological systems. Its budget for the financial year 2012/13 is £397m. It advances knowledge and technology (including the promotion and support of the exploitation of research outcomes), and provides trained scientists and engineers, to meet the needs of users and beneficiaries (including the agriculture, bioprocessing, chemical, food, healthcare, pharmaceutical and other biotechnological related industries), thereby contributing to the economic competitiveness of the United Kingdom and the quality of life. It supports a total of around 1600 scientists and 2000 research students in universities and institutes in the UK. For more information see http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/.
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BBSRC works with other Research Councils, who work together on issues of common concern through Research Councils UK (RCUK). For more information see www.rcuk.ac.uk.
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Professor Doug Kell is Chief Executive of BBSRC and took up the post on 1 October 2008. Before this he was the Director of the Manchester Centre for Integrative Systems Biology based in the Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre, now the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB). His research covers a broad range of topics from analytical chemistry to systems biology, usually coupled to biochemical and data modelling. He works at the MIB for one day a week. He was, from 1997 until 2002, Director of Research with the Institute of Biological Sciences at the University of Aberystwyth. He held a personal Chair with the University of Aberystwyth for 10 years until 2002. He was a Founding Director (1988) of Aber Instruments.
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Notes to Editors
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