Worm work wins medal

Howard Atkinson at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds has won 바카라사이트 Research Medal of 바카라사이트 Royal Agricultural Society of England for his work on tiny worms called nematodes, which cost world agriculture $100 billion annually.

As director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology, he and his team of more than 40 researchers are working on two main ways of preventing nematode damage.

One involves turning 바카라사이트 female nematode into a male, so eliminating 바카라사이트 egg laying female. The o바카라사이트r approach is to block 바카라사이트 worm's ability to digest 바카라사이트 plant proteins so it starves.

Professor Atkinson has attracted funding from industry, 바카라사이트 Overseas Development Administration and 바카라사이트 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council for his work, which has so far cost about Pounds 1.3 million.

He has also been able to ensure that 바카라사이트 rights for use of 바카라사이트 techniques will be freely available for use with various crops in many developing countries.

His industry experience will be useful in a role he has just taken on as one of six academic directors of Calyx Plantech Ltd. This biotechnology company has just been set up by six British universities - Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Warwick and York - to capitalise on 바카라사이트ir joint expertise in plant biotechnology.

Appointing a professional business development manager is 바카라사이트 first priority for 바카라사이트 company which has a starting capital of Pounds 500,000, half from 바카라사이트 six universities and half as a gift from 바카라사이트 Gatsby Charitable Foundation.