John Innes Centre
Encyclopedia
The John Innes Centre (JIC) located in Norwich
, Norfolk
, England
is an independent centre for research and training in plant
and microbial science
. It is a registered charity (No 223852) grant-aided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and is a member of the Norwich Research Park.
, Surrey
(now London Borough of Merton
), with funds bequeathed by John Innes, a merchant and philanthropist. The Institution occupied Innes's former estate at Merton Park until 1945 when it moved to Bayfordbury
, Hertfordshire
. It moved to its present site in 1967.
John Innes Compost
was developed by the institution in the 1930s.
In the 1980s, the administration of the John Innes Institute was combined with that of the Plant Breeding Institute and the Nitrogen Fixation Laboratory. In 1994, following the relocation of the operations of other two organisations to the Norwich site, the three were merged as the John Innes Centre.
Their mission statement specifically emphasises research relating to:
These strands, which are woven into the work of the different Science Departments, provide the basis for their three research programmes:
The institute is divided into seven departments: Biological Chemistry, Cell & Developmental Biology, Computational & Systems Biology, Crop Genetics, Disease & Stress Biology, Metabolic Biology and Molecular Microbiology.
JIC has a large contingent of Postdoctoral researcher
s, many of which are recruited onto the institute's Post-doctoral Training Fellowship program. JIC has a strong tradition of training PhD
students and post-docs. PhD degrees obtained via JIC are awarded by the University of East Anglia
.
JIC is also the Norwich base of the Sainsbury Laboratory
, an institute focused on plant disease. Although well integrated with JIC, The Sainsbury Laboratory is closely affiliated with the University of East Anglia
.
Along with the Institute of Food Research
and University of East Anglia
(UEA) it hosted the British Science Festival in September 2006.
The John Innes centre is currently directed by Dale Sanders
, previously it was directed by Chris Lamb from 1999 to 2009.
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
is an independent centre for research and training in plant
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and microbial science
Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters or no cell at all . This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes...
. It is a registered charity (No 223852) grant-aided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and is a member of the Norwich Research Park.
History
The John Innes Horticultural Institution was founded in 1910 at Merton ParkMerton Park
Merton Park is a place in the London Borough of Merton. It is a quiet and leafy suburb situated between Wimbledon, Morden, South Wimbledon and Wimbledon Chase. It is 7.3 miles south-west of Charing Cross...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
(now London Borough of Merton
London Borough of Merton
The London Borough of Merton is a borough in southwest London, England.The borough was formed under the London Government Act in 1965 by the merger of the Municipal Borough of Mitcham, the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon and the Merton and Morden Urban District, all formerly within Surrey...
), with funds bequeathed by John Innes, a merchant and philanthropist. The Institution occupied Innes's former estate at Merton Park until 1945 when it moved to Bayfordbury
Bayfordbury
Bayfordbury, Hertfordshire is the location of the University of Hertfordshire's biology/geography field station and observatory. The site is also home to the Science Learning Centre for the East of England, which runs training courses for teachers and technicians in science learning for early...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. It moved to its present site in 1967.
John Innes Compost
John Innes Compost
John Innes Compost is a set of four formulae for growing medium, developed at the John Innes Centre in the 1930s and released into the public domain. The formulae contain loam, peat, sand or grit, and fertiliser in varying ratios for specific purposes....
was developed by the institution in the 1930s.
In the 1980s, the administration of the John Innes Institute was combined with that of the Plant Breeding Institute and the Nitrogen Fixation Laboratory. In 1994, following the relocation of the operations of other two organisations to the Norwich site, the three were merged as the John Innes Centre.
Mission
The core of JIC's mission is to conduct leading-edge fundamental and strategic research relating to the understanding and exploitation of plants and microbes. From this research excellence comes economic and social impact through innovation and application, training and outreach.Their mission statement specifically emphasises research relating to:
- yield and productivity
- environmental interactions
- quality and valuable products.
These strands, which are woven into the work of the different Science Departments, provide the basis for their three research programmes:
- Plant Growth and Development: Traits and Mechanisms
- Plant Perception and Response to the Environment
- Understanding and Exploiting Plant and Microbial Metabolism
The institute is divided into seven departments: Biological Chemistry, Cell & Developmental Biology, Computational & Systems Biology, Crop Genetics, Disease & Stress Biology, Metabolic Biology and Molecular Microbiology.
JIC has a large contingent of Postdoctoral researcher
Postdoctoral researcher
Postdoctoral research is scholarly research conducted by a person who has recently completed doctoral studies, normally within the previous five years. It is intended to further deepen expertise in a specialist subject, including acquiring novel skills and methods...
s, many of which are recruited onto the institute's Post-doctoral Training Fellowship program. JIC has a strong tradition of training PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
students and post-docs. PhD degrees obtained via JIC are awarded by the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
.
JIC is also the Norwich base of the Sainsbury Laboratory
Sainsbury Laboratory
The Sainsbury Laboratory located at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, Norfolk, England is a world leading institute working on plant-microbe interactions....
, an institute focused on plant disease. Although well integrated with JIC, The Sainsbury Laboratory is closely affiliated with the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
.
Along with the Institute of Food Research
Institute of Food Research
The Institute of Food Research is one of the worlds leading agricultural and food science research institutions. It prides itself upon its wealth of research, regularly contributing to both government policies and Industry bodies as well as public relations.-History:Based in Norwich, IFR was...
and University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
(UEA) it hosted the British Science Festival in September 2006.
The John Innes centre is currently directed by Dale Sanders
Dale Sanders
Professor Dale Sanders, FRS is a director of the John Innes Centre, an internationally leading institute for research in plant sciences and microbiology in Norwich, England. His specialist area is membrane transport and signal transduction in plants as well as the mechanisms of heavy metal and...
, previously it was directed by Chris Lamb from 1999 to 2009.