report to the BBSRC Executive Chair Research Committees - five committees award research grants in specific science areas Institutes of BBSRC The council strategically funds eight research institutes in the UK, and a number of centres (BBSRC: Institutes and centres). They have strong links with business, industry and the wider community, and support policy development. The institutes' research underpins key sectors of the UK economy such as agriculture, bioenergy, biotechnology, food and drink and pharmaceuticals. In addition, the institutes maintain unique research facilities of national importance. Babraham Institute (BI) (Cambridge) Earlham Institute (EI) (formerly The Genome Analysis Centre) (Norwich) The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), part of Aberystwyth University (Aberystwyth) John Innes Centre (JIC) (Norwich) The Pirbright Institute (Pirbright), formerly the Institute for Animal Health (IAH) Quadram Institute (Norwich), formerly the Institute of Food Research The Roslin Institute (RI) (Midlothian), part of the University of Edinburgh Rothamsted Research (Harpenden and North Wyke) Other research institutes have merged with each other or with local universities. Previous BBSRC (or AFRC) sponsored institutes include: Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER - Aberystwyth), merged with the University of Aberystwyth 2008 Letcombe Laboratory Long Ashton Research Station (LARS - Bristol) the Plant Breeding Institute (PBI - Cambridge) the Weed Research Organisation (WRO - Oxford) Silsoe Research Institute (SRI - Bedfordshire) was closed in 2006. References Biological research institutes in the United Kingdom Biology education in the United Kingdom Biotechnology in the United Kingdom Biotechnology organizations Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Government agencies established in 1994 Life sciences industry Non-departmental public bodies of the United Kingdom government Organisations based in Swindon Organizations established in 1994 Research councils Research institutes in the United Kingdom Science and technology in the United Kingdom 1994 establishments in the United Kingdom