Embargoed until 9. 00 am 5 May 2004

Professor David White to be next Director of the Institute of Food Research

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is pleased to announce today that Professor David White has been appointed Director of the Institute of Food Research (IFR) at Norwich, with effect from 1 September 2004.

Professor White has been Director of Science and Technology at BBSRC Office since October 1997. Before that he was Head of Biology at the University of York where he established the Department as one of the leading bioscience research centres in the UK, with a first class academic standard, a high level of investment from a range of funding organisations, and a strong record in innovation.

Professor White has been a key figure in shaping BBSRC's research strategy in recent years, particularly in developing research networks and consortia in genomics and post-genomics, and most recently in formulating plans for the UK's first Centres for Integrative Systems Biology. He was Chair of the scientific steering group that worked with IFR staff in 1998 to re-focus the Institute's scientific strategy and research programme following its restructuring on to a single site at Norwich. He also has extensive knowledge of international science policy and implementation, and has taken part in several recent high-level visits e.g. to the USA, China and throughout Europe.

"I am delighted that on his return to a research centre, following his fixed-term appointment at BBSRC, David White has decided to remain within the BBSRC community," said BBSRC Chief Executive, Professor Julia Goodfellow. "His energy and enthusiasm, together with the strategic management skills that empower researchers to pursue and develop their scientific vision and goals, will be an enormous asset to IFR."

" The Institute is an internationally renowned scientific institution with major research programmes in strategically relevant areas such as food safety and quality, diet and health, and food materials, and a wide range of customers including UK Government, the EU and industry. David's experience will be vital in delivering the mix of fundamental and strategic research needed by the Institute's user-communities," said Professor Goodfellow.

Chair of the IFR Governing Body, Dr Geoff Spriegel , Technical Director of J Sainsbury plc, welcomed the announcement. "This is good news for IFR: the new Director has already worked with us in formulating the Institute's scientific vision and he has a deep understanding of our science and our role. IFR's value to the UK research base and to the food and related industries depends on the excellence of its science, and its ability to deliver cutting edge research. At a time of rapid change in the way bioscience is developing, through increasing interdisciplinarity and the use of new technologies from the physical sciences, we are fortunate to be able to draw upon David's experience and expertise to harness these advances for UK food research," said Dr Spriegel.

Professor White said that he was delighted by his appointment and looking forward to a return to managing research, and to the opportunities and challenges ahead. "Food research will be an area that can benefit enormously from recent advances in the biosciences, " he said. "For example, knowledge about the protein and small molecule composition of cells under different conditions and at different times (so called "proteomics" and metabolomics") will enable us to understand and predict interactions in complex food systems. This will dramatically increase knowledge of how components of foods interact with each other and how they influence food quality and safety, as well as providing a basis for understanding the impact of dietary components on the health of individuals. These are all issues of great importance to Government, the wider public and the food industry and I look forward to leading IFR's contribution."

Professor White is being appointed for 2 years in the first instance, with the potential for extension. Before he takes over full time in September, he will be working on IFR matters in liaison with the Acting Director Professor Mike Gasson.

Contacts

Dr Monica Winstanley
Head of External Relations
Tel:01793 413204
E-mail: monica.winstanley@ifr.ac.uk

Matthew Goode
BBSRC Media Office
Tel: 01793 413299
E-mail: matt.goode@ifr.ac.uk


Notes for Editors

• Photographs of Professor White are available from BBSRC External Relations Unit: 01793 413299/ 413301
  
• The Institute of Food Research is one of eight institutes sponsored by the BBSRC. It is situated on the Norwich Research Park and has close associations with the neighbouring John Innes Centre and University of East Anglia.
• BBSRC works closely with the Institute Governing Body, which comprises leading scientists, business and consumer experts.
• IFR has a staff of just under 300. It has a total annual income of around £15M, of which just over half is core strategic funding from BBSRC.
• Professor White succeeds Professor Alastair Robertson who left IFR at the end of August 2003 to take up a role as Chief Executive of Food Science Australia. He is currently a member of the Research Councils UK Research Management Group, BBSRC's Executive Management Group and as BBSRC Director of Science and Technology leads a group of over 50 responsible for developing and implementing BBSRC's policy on research funding and support.
• Professor White trained originally as a physicist before becoming one of the UK's foremost researchers on mechanistic aspects of muscle biology and motility. His recent research interests include the development and application of molecular tools and motors, for example in novel sensors and diagnostics.
• Institute Directors report to the Chief Executive of BBSRC.

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