The John Innes Center (JIC) is an international research center of excellence in plant and microbial located in Norwich Research Park in the United Kingdom. Established in 1910, JIC is publicly funded, not-for-profit organization currently supported by nearly 50 different organizations, and is grant-aided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

The JIC’s mission is to enhance scientific knowledge, the quality of life and economic well being by using cutting-edge science to understand how plants and microorganisms work, and by providing high quality doctoral and post-doctoral research training. JIC has a strong alliance with the University of East Anglia and hosts 150 postgraduate students.

As an integrated bioscience center, the JIC makes use of a wide range of disciplines in the biological and chemical sciences, including cell biology, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics and molecular biology. Its scientists study biological systems at the genetic, molecular, cellular and whole organism levels via multidisciplinary research programs. The scientific research at the Centre JIC science contributes to UK Technology Foresight priority areas and the needs of its sponsors and user communities.

Some of the current research work ongoing at JIC include:

• studying how plant genes control selected aspects of plant growth and development with focus on model systems such as Arabidopsis
• determining protein structure/function information for a range of biological systems
• fundamental research on the biology of cereals, brassicas and legumes to understand the genetic and molecular basis of phenotypic variation
• developing high-yielding, stress and disease resistant varieties
• characterizing newly emerging pathogens, pests and disease complexes and studying their responses to the selection pressures that occur in agriculture and nature
• studying bacterial metabolism, physiology, gene regulation and development, and plant-bacterial interactions
• statistical modeling, data mining and algorithm development

The Center has state-of-the-art facilities, and specialized laboratories and equipment for microbial, cell biological, biochemical, chemical and molecular biological research. The Center has high-end facilities on microscopy, spectroscopy, and advanced robotics and bioinformatics required for genomic, proteomic and metabolomic sciences.

The Center hosts the Sainsbury Laboratory, Genome Laboratory and the Norwich Bio-incubator. The Sainsbury Laboratory is an organization known for its research in molecular plant pathology and genetics. Although an independent laboratory, it is scientifically, physically and administratively linked to JIC. The Genome laboratory on the other hand, offers platform technologies for genomics research to scientists working in the Norwich Research Park, while the Bio-incubator provides an innovative, dynamic and stimulating environment in which entrepreneurs and companies can develop their ideas and technologies.

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