Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation, is a non-departmental public body (NDPB), and is the largest UK public funder of non-medical bioscience. It predominantly funds scientific research institutes and university research departments in the UK. Purpose Receiving its funding through the science budget of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), BBSRC's mission is to "promote and support, by any means, high-quality basic, strategic and applied research and related postgraduate training relating to the understanding and exploitation of biological systems". Structure BBSRC's head office is at Polaris House in Swindon - the same building as the other councils of UK Research and Innovation, AHRC EPSRC, ESRC, Innovate UK, MRC, NERC, Research England and STFC, as well as the UKSA. Funded by Government, BBSRC invested over £498 million in bioscience in 2017–18. BBSRC also manages the joint Research Councils' Office in Brussels – the UK Research Office (UKRO). History BBSRC was created in 1994, merging the former Agricultural and Food Research Council (AFRC) and taking over the biological science activities of the former Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC). Chairs Sir Alistair Grant (1994-1998) Dr Peter Doyle CBE (1998-2003) Dr Peter Ringrose (2003-2009) Prof Sir Tom Blundell FRS (2009–2015) Prof Sir Gordon Duff (2015–present) Chief executives Prof (now Sir) Tom Blundell FRS (1994 -1996) Prof Ray Baker CBE (1996-2002) Prof (now Dame) Julia Goodfellow CBE (2002-2007) Prof Douglas Kell CBE (2008–2013) Dr Jackie Hunter CBE (from 21 October 2013) Prof Melanie Welham FRSB (2016-2018) Executive chairs Prof Melanie Welham FRSB (2018–present) Governance and management BBSRC is managed by the BBSRC Council consisting of a chair (from 2015, Professor Sir Gordon Duff), an executive chair (Professor Melanie Welham) and from ten to eighteen representatives from UK universities, government and industry. The council approves policies, strategy, budgets and major funding. A research panel provides expert advice which BBSRC Council draws upon in making decisions. The purpose of the research panel is to advise on: the development and implementation of the council's strategic plans the competitiveness, relevance, economic impact, and societal considerations of the science and innovation activities funded by BBSRC opportunities for partnership with national and international organisations Boards, panels and committees In addition to the council and the research panel, BBSRC has a series of other internal bodies for specific purposes. Appointments Board Remuneration Board Strategy Advisory Panels - eight panels advise and