Institute of Food Research restructures in response to new strategic plan

The Institute of Food Research (IFR) announces today a further step in the delivery of its 5 year scientific plan. To achieve this, the Institute will first have to lose 25 science posts, but gain a number of new senior scientists to provide the vision and skills necessary for the delivery of international-quality research into new areas. These in turn will develop new research groups.

Professor David White, Director of IFR, said: “This is a challenging time for everyone at the Institute, and we regret the personal impact of job losses. However, the introduction of new skills is essential to achieve our long term vision and will inject renewed health into our science strategy”.

Chairman of IFR’s Governing Body Dr Geoff Spriegel said: “Today’s announcement is a necessary stage in the process of changing IFR’s direction with a redefined research agenda. The Governing Body has confidence in the new strategy, so this difficult phase will help IFR to retain its leading edge in food research”.

A new research programme announced as part of the 5 year strategic plan is in ‘Personalised Nutrition’. It will focus on the interaction between food and genes and will help policy-makers to refine dietary advice to sectors of the population such as different age groups. IFR will recruit a leading scientist to head this programme.

“Although we have made a good operating surplus each year, this has been insufficient to enable us to maintain our capital expenditure and other investments at the levels necessary. These measures will give us breathing space to maintain our international reputation for research into the impact of food on human health, while improving our financial position and strengthening our expertise in some areas of science”, said Professor White.

The process to be adopted is being discussed fully with staff, and follows the BBSRC Staff Code. The Trade Union Side at IFR is being consulted and is being kept informed.

The Institute is also committed to reviewing its non-science services, with a view to merging some functions with the neighbouring John Innes Centre. Both Institutes are sponsored by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). By sharing more support activities they aim to improve efficiency and maximise competitiveness when applying for research grants.

Notes to Editors

Please contact Catherine Reynolds for further information and interviews: M 07774 692043 T 01603 255217 (office) catherine.reynolds@ifr.ac.uk
The vision of the Institute of Food Research (www.ifr.ac.uk) is to be a world-leading contributor to harnessing food for health and controlling food-related disease. IFR is a not-for-profit company with charitable status. It is sponsored by the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council. IFR is the UK’s only integrated basic science provider focused on food.
IFR’s strategic plan was published in August 2005. A pdf version can be downloaded at: www.ifr.ac.uk/Publications/Strategy/IFRStrategicPlan.pdf With this Strategic Plan we are establishing a change in emphasis of our scientific direction. We are focussing our research across a range of food and nutrition-related disciplines with the goal of providing evidence for how food can be a means of improving the health of individuals and of preventing or reducing the risk of food-related diseases.

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