Core support for Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Instiute. Award for years 4 and 5. (360G-Wellcome-075661_Z_04_A)

This application requests the continuation of core support to the Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute. The aim of the Institute, an integrated part of Cambridge University, is to contribute to an understanding of normal animal development, including the processes of cell differentiation, morphogenesis and cell proliferation, and to explain how, should these processes fail, cancers may arise. The Institute attempts to achieve these objectives by recruiting the best scientists and by ensuring that they have the best possible environment for their work. Recruitment is carried out by a committee of Group Leaders, with the main criterion for appointment being scientific excellence. This application is concerned with providing the best scientific environment for our researchers, and indeed the Institute's core support is one of its most important assets, allowing our scientists to spend as much time as possible on their work. This support provides practical assistance, such as media preparation, and secretarial and administrative assistance, including help with grant applications and equipment procurement. It also provides computer staff and a bioinformatician, as well as expertise in confocal microscopy. Core support is essential if the Institute is to maintain its position as a leading centre of cell, molecular and developmental biology.