University agrees partnership with BBSRC

The University of Glasgow has formed a strategic partnership with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

These type of arrangements are rare as only 11 other universities have entered into the same agreement with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

Dr Paul Burrows, executive director of corporate policy and strategy at the BBSRC, said: “Funding of excellence, wherever found in the university system, remains at the heart of our philosophy. However, we recognise certain universities, based either on their volume of BBSRC competitive funding or strength in our strategic priority areas, are particularly important to help us deliver our ambitious strategy for UK bioscience.”

The university currently receives more than £30m of BBSRC funding for research in fundamental biosciences. This helps researchers discover more about both human and animal disease as well as food security – the supply of food and individuals’ access to it. The University will work closely with the BBSRC on the government’s Industrial Strategy on ideas surrounding transforming researching into commercial entities.

This new partnership will see more dialogue between the bioscience funding agency and senior management of the 12 universities. The increased dialogue is aiming to create a more efficient and joined up approach to investment.

Professor Anna Dominiczak, head of the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, said: “The University of Glasgow is delighted to be the BBSRC’s latest strategic partner. I look forward to an even closer working relationship with the BBSRC as we progress our shared research priorities.”