Brexit statement: Director of Earlham Institute (EI)

30 June 2016
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EI Director Neil Hall comments on the recent EU referendum decision and how this affects our scientific community.

The Earlham Institute (formerly The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC)), like all research institutes in the UK, benefits from EU funding but also many of our research staff are non-British EU nationals. Therefore, we currently depend on free movement to maintain our scientific excellence and competitive edge.

The ramifications of this decision will depend very much on what will replace what we have now, and I sincerely hope that the Government value the UK’s leading position in research and do not hamstring us by restricting collaboration and cooperation across borders.

Currently, the UK continues to be a member of the EU and we will continue to deliver our normal business. We expect that over the coming weeks the Government will consider the details and timing of its current legislative programme as set out in the Queen’s speech, in light of the referendum result. We will be working with BBSRC and the other Research Councils to keep every one of our staff and collaborators as informed as possible.

Meanwhile, we are committed to continuing our research strategy and to remaining a world-class research institute. Our staff are key to our success as an institute and we hope to continue to attract and retain talented individuals from across the EU and beyond. The EI will continue to value and welcome all people of all nationalities.

Professor Neil Hall, Director of Earlham Institute

 

Notes to editors.

Notes to editors

For more information, please contact:

Hayley London

Marketing & Communications Officer, Earlham Institute (EI)

  • +44 (0)1603 450 107

hayley.london@earlham.ac.uk

About Earlham Institute

The Earlham Institute (EI) is a world-leading research institute focusing on the development of genomics and computational biology. EI is based within the Norwich Research Park and is one of eight institutes that receive strategic funding from Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC) - £6.45M in 2015/2016 - as well as support from other research funders. EI operates a National Capability to promote the application of genomics and bioinformatics to advance bioscience research and innovation.

EI offers a state of the art DNA sequencing facility, unique by its operation of multiple complementary technologies for data generation. The Institute is a UK hub for innovative bioinformatics through research, analysis and interpretation of multiple, complex data sets. It hosts one of the largest computing hardware facilities dedicated to life science research in Europe. It is also actively involved in developing novel platforms to provide access to computational tools and processing capacity for multiple academic and industrial users and promoting applications of computational Bioscience. Additionally, the Institute offers a training programme through courses and workshops, and an outreach programme targeting key stakeholders, and wider public audiences through dialogue and science communication activities.

www.earlham.ac.uk