Integrative biology is the study of how gene products integrate into the function of whole tissues in intact organisms
A unique partnership between research and higher education funding councils, learned societies and a consortium of pharmaceutical companies (AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer) has established an £11 million dedicated fund to springboard capacity building in integrative mammalian biology.
Integrative biology is the study of how gene products integrate into the function of whole tissues in intact organisms.
Understanding gene function in mammalian systems ultimately requires the use of mammalian models.
The information generated is central to the development of new therapeutic approaches to tackle human and animal diseases and to help deliver safe and effective medicines.
The Capacity Building Awards (CBAs) have been pioneered as a response to concerns, highlighted by recent surveys, that the UK is losing capacity in integrative mammalian biology.
The CBA partnership will provide resources to rebuild this capacity to ensure that the UK can capitalise on the wealth of data generated by large scale genome projects for the development of new therapeutic approaches to tackle human and animal diseases and the delivery of safe and effective medicines.
CBAs will support institutions that already demonstrate existing strengths in integrative mammalian biology to enable them to equip the next generation of researchers with the range of expertise and skills required including best practice in the use of animals in research, high quality experimental design and the application of a broad range of techniques and approaches in integrative mammalian biology.
Professor Julia Goodfellow, BBSRC chief executive, says: "Research into integrative mammalian biology is absolutely fundamental to help us to translate the huge amount of information from human and animal genome projects.
"Only by bringing together this unique range of funders will we develop the truly integrated approach to build capacity in this area and place it on solid foundations for the future".
Professor Colin Blakemore, chief executive of the Medical Research Council (MRC), says: "This will give an immediate boost to integrative mammalian biology research capacity.
"The MRC is delighted to provide research funding for this important initiative.
"It is in everyone's interest to consolidate and strengthen these research skills in the UK.
"The pharmaceutical sector in particular needs trained physiologists and pharmacologists to help to turn scientific knowledge into advances in prevention, diagnosis and treatment."
