Biologists win major prize for work with industry
Posted on 26 March 1997
The judges were impressed by the Department's record in building industrial inks across the spectrum of its work and by the quality of its research. The prize was awarded at the Department of Trade and Industry by Ian Taylor, Minister for Science and Technology.
The extent of the Department's collaborations with industry and commerce has increased dramatically over the last few years. From July 1995 to July 1996 industrially funded research in Biology increased by 66 per cent.
Work in plant biology under Professors Dale Sanders and Dianna Bowles has implications for a range of industrial processes as well as food and other crop production. Research partners include Zeneca and Unilever. Professor Tim Skerry's team study bone and joint development and repair. Much of this work is funded by health care company Smith and Nephew. Industry is also attracted by the Department's work in water quality, food structure, vaccines, fertility and environmental problems.
New strategic links, including those with Unilever, Zeneca and Smith and Nephew, amount to an inward investment of £2.2m in the Department by UK industry in 1995/96.
"It is the depth and quality of our research which is the foundation for our interactions with industry, and this was a major factor in our success," said Professor David White, Head of Department. "Recognition for this also came in the award of a Grade 5 in the recent Research Assessment Exercise. We have an enthusiastic and exciting research environment in which we maintain a very wide range of programmes. Our commitment to the development of research strengths attracts a regular influx of new young staff."
The award is also recognition of the Department's role in Bioscience York, a major regional development involving industry, academia and government players.