Professor Sir Tom Blundell appointed new Chair of the BBSRC

Professor Blundell, who is the Sir William Dunn Professor of Biochemistry, Head of the Department of Biochemistry and Chair of the School of Biological Sciences, is expected to take up the appointment on 1 July.

The BBSRC funds non-clinical bioscience and is one of six research councils funded through the Department for Innovation for Universities and Skills. It supports research into plants, microbes, animals and biological tools and technologies.

It is governed by a council comprising the Chair, the Chief Executive and up to 18 other members. The Chair holds ‘overall responsibility for the governance and direction of the Council which in turn is responsible for the BBSRC’s overall strategy.

Following positions at the Universities of Oxford, Sussex and Birkbeck, Professor Blundell entered science administration as Director General of the Agricultural and Food Research Council, the forerunner to the BBSRC, in 1991. After the formation of the BBSRC in 1994 Professor Blundell became its first Chief Executive, a post he held until 1996. He also chaired the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution between 1998 and 2005, producing reports on energy and climate change, the marine environment and other current environmental concerns.

His own research explores the relationship between molecular structure and biological function and diseases such as cancer. This research has led to the design of various new drugs and co-founding of Astex Therapeutics.

Following questioning by the Innovation, Universities, Skills and Science Select Committee they concluded: “We are satisfied that Professor Sir Tom Blundell has the professional competence and personal independence required to Chair the BBSRC. We recommend that the Secretary of State proceed with the appointment and we wish Professor Blundell every success in his new post.”