Department of Biology

York Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) opened by Business Secretary Vince Cable

Focussed on business needs, the BDC bridges the gap between laboratory scale and commercial manufacture, offering a unique combination of internationally recognised analytical science based on fast track plant breeding together with novel extraction and processing technologies.

CNAP / Brazil collaboration

The first BBSRC-Fapesp funded project has been awarded to Neil Bruce and Simon McQueen-Mason of CNAP. The award supports work to identify new enzymes that can be used in the breakdown of lignin and lignocellulose for the production of liquid biofuels.

More details can be found on the BBSRC website. The BBSRC-Fapesp scheme is also described.

New partnership to improve seed supplies of vital anti-malarial plant

At the Artemisinin Conference in Hanoi, the Centre for Novel Agricultural Products (CNAP), at the University of York, and East-West Seed announced a new partnership to ensure that high yielding seeds from improved varieties of Artemisia annua will rapidly be made available for global cultivation.

Vice Chancellor's Gold Award for Excellence 2011 won by CNAP Artemisia research team

This award to the CNAP Artemisia research team, led by Dianna Bowles and Ian Graham, is for the team's successful and highly professional contribution to the global sustainability and delivery of artemisinin supplies for treatment of malaria

Green factories: York biologists benefitting society

University of York Communications Office item on the work of CNAP (University of York home page, January 2011): http://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/features/cnap

Biology to benefit society: dedicated teams in specialised labs achieve impressive success

An article on the work of CNAP was released in the inaugural (November 2010) issue of Public Service Review: UK Science and Technology, a new Public Service Review science focused journal. 

The CNAP item can be downloaded here: http://www.york.ac.uk/org/cnap/pdfs/
STUK1CentreforNovelPRO.pdf

University of York shortlisted for four major awards

The University has been nominated in the International Collaboration of the Year category for the work of Centre for Novel Agricultural Products (CNAP) on its Artemisia Research Project.

Gene discovery could help to boost crop yields

A discovery by scientists at the University of York of a vital feature of a plant's temperature sensing and growth mechanism could help to increase yields from crops.

A leading plant scientist is to take up the joint appointment of a Chair in Crop Protection in the Centre for Novel Agricultural Products (CNAP) in the Department of Biology at the University of York and Chief Scientist in the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera).

Seafarers' scourge provides hope for biofuel future

For centuries, seafarers were plagued by wood-eating gribble that destroyed their ships, and these creatures continue to wreak damage on wooden piers and docks in coastal communities.

New genetic map will speed up plant breeding of the world's most important medicinal crop

Plant scientists at the University of York have published the first genetic map of the medicinal herb Artemisia annua.

related links:

The botanical solution for malaria. Science perspective article

Genetic map published in Science

Recent media coverage; Gene map of anti-malaria plant could boost supply