JIC Research Programmes

The JIC has a unique combination of expertise and critical mass in plants and microbes. Our research programmes create strong research frameworks that directly align academic excellence in plant and microbial science to BBSRC strategic objectives in food security, industrial biotechnology and human health.

We address problems that range from molecular interactions within cells to field-trials of crop germplasm and industrial production of novel anti-infectives. Our long term focus on genetics, and our future plans in exploring the relationship between genotype and environment in determining phenotype, provides coherence and a unifying strategy that enables us to make important contributions to food security, human health and sustainable living.

Our Research Programmes

Understanding and Exploiting Plant and Microbial Metabolism

Programme Leader: Anne Osbourn

Scientific Challenge

Understand control of primary metabolism and discovery of novel pathways for synthesis of secondary products

Strategic Challenge

Exploiting new knowledge for the benefit of agriculture, bio-based industries and human health

Find out more...

Biotic Interactions for Crop productivity

Programme Leader: Richard Morris

Scientific Challenge

Understand the complex interplay that occurs in interactions between plants and other organisms and to define how this leads to symbiosis, disease or resistance

Strategic Challenge

To reduce crop losses caused by pests and pathogens and to enhance the use of beneficial symbionts in sustainable agriculture

Find out more...

Growth and Development Underpinning Yield

Programme Leader: Mike Bevan

Scientific Challenge

Understand how regulatory genes and cell behaviour controls growth of organs and whole plants in their environment

Strategic Challenge

To modify plant growth and crop yield in a predictive way

Find out more...

Wheat Improvement

Programme Leader: Graham Moore

Scientific Challenge

Enhance exploitation of diversity in wheat breeding by developing prebreeding germplasm characterised for key traits and identifying markers for selection of these

Strategic Challenge

Construction of experimental crosses genotyped and phenotyped to facilitate genetic dissection of target traits

Find out more...