Biology of Spongiform Encephalopathies

Following the decision to make an additional tranche of funding available for this programme, BBSRC welcomes applications on any novel aspects of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) particularly in the following priority topics: the nature of the infectious agent; the normal function and structural biology of the prion protein (PrP); molecular methods of strain differentiation; molecular mechanisms and genetics of pathogenesis of both the CNS and PNS; approaches underpinning the development of therapeutics; epidemiology and modelling to underpin scrapie control; scrapie as a natural disease model in the target species; establishing whether PrPsc is present in sub-clinical animals.

Applications from researchers new to the TSE field are particularly welcome. Innovative, collaborative research proposals between centres with well-established expertise in TSE research, or between such centres and other groups with complementary expertise are particularly encouraged.
Contact: Meg Wilson
Address: Agri-Food Branch, Science and Technology Group, BBSRC, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon SN2 1UH
Telephone: 01793 413350 Fax: 01793 414675
Email: meg.wilson@bbsrc.ac.uk