BBSRC

🚨 Calling all researchers from diverse disciplines! Could you help tackle current and future epidemic threats to animal, human, and plant health?   Phase 2 of our epidemic preparedness flagship investment is now open for applications, and we’re inviting a wide range of disciplines to apply - whether you’re in engineering, medicine, environmental, or social science. This is a fantastic opportunity to collaborate and build relationships across disciplines and institutions beyond your usual remit! 💡Join our webinar on 24 April to learn more: https://lnkd.in/e8N__3dU 📧 Have questions? Email them in advance to: TacklingEpidemics@ukri.org 📝 Or apply now: https://lnkd.in/eZxXHwYD ⏰ Closes on 19 June 2025 at 4pm You don’t need to have phase one funding to apply and we welcome applications from new or established groups.   This opportunity is part of the wider UKRI Tackling Infections strategic theme that aims to enhance our prediction and prevention of infectious diseases that pose threats to people, livestock, crops, and natural resources. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

🆕 Research today is more collaborative and interdisciplinary than ever, with evidence demonstrating that a positive culture - supportive of difference and diversity - is essential for producing great science. Last week we brought together the BBSRC community for wide-ranging discussions on research culture and wellbeing at the Connecting Research Culture Conference. 💡 The two-day event featured talks, panel discussions, and workshops on topics including #neurodiversity, research integrity, improving #inclusion, and addressing #mentalhealth challenges in research environments. 🥼 💬 “While we’ve made significant progress, there is still much more to learn from one another. We hope the conversations sparked at this conference will lead to tangible improvements in research culture.” - Dr Siobhan Dorai-Raj, Earlham Institute’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equality and Accessibility (IDEA) manager. In a new article we highlight the key messages, themes, and takeaways from the two-day event: ➡️ https://okt.to/NoaIqX The Babraham Institute | IBERS | John Innes Centre | Rothamsted Research | Roslin Institute | The Pirbright Institute | Quadram Institute | UK Research and Innovation

Welcome to our 24 newly-appointed Council members! We’re looking forward to working with all of you across UKRI. AHRC: Seetha Kumar Tim Gardam Anita Bhalla Emma Kane BBSRC: James Briscoe EPSRC: Dr Dave Smith Simon King Professor Ian White ESRC: Andrew Dilnot Professor David Halpern Professor Cecilia Wong MRC: Professor Nadeem Sarwar Professor Nancy Rothwell Professor Sir Mark Caulfield NERC: Professor Peter Cox Professor Richard Bardgett Nick Folland Research England: Dr Tony Raven Professor Dina Kiwan Professor Dame Julia Buckingham STFC: Professor Jayne Lawrence Professor Dave Charlton Professor Andrew Pontzen Professor Stan Bentvelsen Our thanks also go to our outgoing Council members for their service.

Auto-immune diseases like Type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis impact over 10% of the population - but groundbreaking solutions are on the horizon! 💡   Sky Ng, Entrepreneurial lead from the University of Birmingham, is on a mission to cure autoimmune diseases by translating cutting-edge scientific discoveries into life-changing treatments. Their innovative technology identifies antigen-specific T-cell receptors responsible for these diseases, enabling the design of therapeutic peptides to combat them.   Beyond scientific innovation, this approach is shaping the future of both human and veterinary medicine 🏥🐾. By replacing traditional animal models in research, Sky’s work not only accelerates discovery but also supports more ethical and precise solutions.   As part of the ICURe Programme, Sky is actively exploring commercial applications and collaborating with disease-focused research groups to maximise impact. Their vision? To take their discoveries from the lab to the lives of patients who need them most.   If you’re a researcher looking to make IMPACT, ICURe could be your next step! https://lnkd.in/ePUhmyGM   Innovate UK | In collaboration with BBSRC & National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) | Delivered by The Helix Way   #Innovation #Impact #FutureEconomy #Technology #Research  

Today kicks off the first day of the BBSRC Connecting Research Culture Conference, organised and hosted by the Earlham Institute. Funded by BBRSRC's Connecting Cultures Fund, the conference aims to facilitate knowledge sharing, network building, and dissemination of best practice in key areas of #researchculture across research institutes and partner universities. Across two days with talks, group discussions, and seminars, we'll be exploring topics such as: ❓ What does "good research culture" look like? 🙋♀️ How senior leaders can foster positive #culturechange 💚 Wellbeing and mental health challenges in the #research environment This morning will start with opening remarks from Prof Anne Ferguson-Smith, Executive Chair at BBSRC, before hearing from our colleagues at other BBSRC Institutes on key projects connected to this fund, including #mentoring, championing #neurodiversity, and reporting evidence and metrics. https://okt.to/z0dBHI The Pirbright Institute | Roslin Institute | Rothamsted Research | The Babraham Institute | Quadram Institute | John Innes Centre | IBERS | UK Research and Innovation

Did you know that soya has long been a staple in UK poultry farming, but its links to deforestation and long transport miles make it unsustainable? 🐔 With 116 million broilers and 29 million laying hens in the UK, we need better alternatives. Researchers at NTU have found a way to replace imported soya with a protein-rich co-product from bioethanol production - a growing renewable fuel industry. Led by Professor Emily Burton, the team has developed a cost-effective, high-quality alternative that reduces carbon footprints while keeping poultry farming sustainable and affordable. ♻️ By connecting biofuels with farming, NTU research is helping to produce food and fuel more responsibly, supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 🌍 👉 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eM8Ghk78 #NTUResearch #SustainableFarming #NationalPoultryDay School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences