BBSRC and MRC renew investment in structural biology software

BBSRC and the MRC have renewed funding of a world-leading suite of software that allows scientists to determine the 3D structure of molecules.

In total £1.43M of funding has been awarded to eight components of Collaborative Computational Project Number 4 (CCP4) after a peer-reviewed application process.

Seven of the eight projects are being funded by BBSRC, with the Medical Research Council (MRC) funding the eighth.

CCP4, which has contributors from across the UK and a hub based at the Research Complex at Harwell, is a world leading x-ray crystallography software resource co-ordinated by the Computational Science and Engineering Department of the Science & Technology Facilities Council at the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.

Formed in 1979, it aims to develop and support the development of innovative approaches to determining and analysing protein structure, and to integrate these approaches into the suite.

It is a community-based resource that supports the widest possible researcher community, embracing academic, not-for-profit, and for-profit research. CCP4 aims to play a key role in the education and training of scientists in experimental structural biology. It encourages the wide dissemination of new ideas, techniques and practice.

Professor Melanie Welham, Director of Science at BBSRC, said: "CCP4 is a valuable and world-leading resource for scientists.

"Both BBSRC and MRC believe it is important to continue supporting the work of CCP4 in order to keep the UK at the cutting edge of structural biology, which is why we are jointly awarding £1.43M to the eight components of the project."

Provided by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council