Plant Science
"To develop basic research in fundamental processes of plant growth and development and molecular plant pathology, to encourage young researchers in the field of plant science in the UK."
Summary of Plant Science programmes
List of grants paid during 2008 - 2009
Links to beneficiaries
Summary of Plant Science programmes
The Sainsbury Laboratory – Norwich, located at the John Innes Centre on the Norwich Research Park, has a scientific focus on plant molecular pathology and disease resistance.
The Sainsbury Laboratory – Cambridge, is the Foundation’s newest and largest ever programme commitment in the area of plant science. The building of the new Sainsbury Laboratory continues on schedule for a formal opening in early 2011. At the topping-out ceremony, which was attended by Lord Sainsbury in early October, it was already possible to get a sense of how the Laboratory building will occupy its exceptional site in the Botanic Garden. When completed the building will represent the latest thinking in effective laboratory design, and house over 120 scientists whose focus will be plant growth and development.
Trustees continue their support for the Plant Science Network and Science and Plants for Schools (SAPS). This year, SAPS entered a new and exciting phase, building on its record of achievement and reputation within the teacher community and developing new ways to strengthen plant science education in the UK. Over the coming year, SAPS will continue to develop its advocacy for the presence of relevant and inspiring plant science in post-14 curricula and qualifications, making greater use of the expertise and experiences of the UK plant science community, and building stronger alliances with other organisations working to support biology teachers in schools and colleges
The Foundation is assisted in its plant science programmes by Dr Roger Freedman and by a Scientific Advisory Panel comprising:
- Professor Jane Langdale
- Professor Liam Dolan
- Professor Ottoline Leyser
- Dr Celia Knight
List of grants paid during 2008 - 2009
| 2008-2009 | |
| Total | £20,388,913 |
| Total payments made this year (from new and previous grants) | |
| Gatsby Plant Science Student Network | £52,269 |
| Towards the student training and networking meetings. | |
| Gatsby Sainsbury PhD Studentships | £199,352 |
| Towards plant science PhD Studentships. | |
| Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich | £3,850,000 |
| Towards core research activities. | |
| University of Cambridge/Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS) | £731,315 |
| Towards core costs of the SAPS programme. | |
| Two Blades Foundation | £744,116 |
| Towards project costs. | |
| University of Cambridge | £14,150,749 |
| Towards: building and capital equipment costs relating to the Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge and Advisory Board Costs; Professor David Baulcombe’s research into short silencing RNA; creation of the Gatsby Fellowship Programme; and the cost of a post-doctoral research associate to support Professor John Gray. | |
| University of Leeds | £175,000 |
| Towards the Gatsby Plants Summer School and web-based plant science teaching resources. | |
| University of Oxford | £258,393 |
| Towards staff posts at the Department for Plant Sciences and Professor Miltos Tsiantis’s work on the evolution of developmental mechanisms. | |
| University of York | £112,546 |
| Towards Professor Ottoline Leyser’s research programme into branching level, branching plasticity and environment. | |
| The beneficiaries below received grant payments totalling £50,000 or less | |
| John Innes Centre | £25,750 |
| Gatsby Technical Education Projects (GTEP) | £39,675 |
| Sainsbury Undergraduate Studentships | £16,863 |
| Student Attendance Conferences | £18,583 |
| Small grants were paid to other organisations in this category totalling £14,302 | |
