Professor Sir Baulcombe David

at University of Cambridge

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Regius Professor of Botany and Fellow of Trinity College, University of Cambridge

David Baulcombe has been the Regius Professor of Botany and Head of the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge since 2007. His current research follows on from his discoveries made in The Sainsbury Laboratory in Norwich, of a novel type of regulatory RNA known as siRNA or RNA silencing. His research later discovered the role of siRNA in protecting plants, and animals, against viral attack.

At Cambridge he continues to investigate the mechanisms and biological role of RNA silencing in disease resistance and in addition the link between RNA silencing and the control of gene expression at various stages of the plant life cycle. He is particularly interested in the potential of RNA to initiate epigenetic effects - changes in gene expression that persist through cell division or even from one generation to the next - and their role in evolution.

His research team is also interested in disease resistance in plants that does not involve RNA silencing. Specifically they are developing approaches for artificial evolution of disease resistance genes.

Outside of the laboratory he is involved in promoting the use of plant biotechnology for crop improvement, particularly technologies that address crop problems in developing countries. He participates in a consortium that addresses sweet potato virus disease and plans to initiate other projects on strategies for developing disease resistant germplasm, including GM technologies.

David received his knighthood and was elected a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge in 2009. His most recent award is his election to Fellow of the Academy of Medical Science in 2010.

  • 11 June 2018, 5:30pm

    Two cultures: can policy makers and academic institutions ever work together effectively?

    The UK has scientific advisers at the top of government, but with science, engineering and technology playing greater and greater roles in our lives there is a correspondingly greater need for a broader understanding of these issues by policy makers.

  • 8 February 2017, 5:30pm

    CSaP Annual Lecture 2017: Professor Chris Whitty, Department of Health

    There will be profound changes in health and disease over the next 20 years. The causes, demography and geography of ill health will shift significantly whilst the trend of demand for healthcare growing more rapidly than GNI is likely to continue. This lecture by Professor Chris Whitty discussed how it can predict, and help respond to, the policy challenges that will follow over the next 2 decades.