CLS researchers strengthen links with scientists at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) in Bangalore November 20, 2013 Collaboration between life sciences research in Dundee and India was consolidated last week (11-16 November 2013) by a team of CLS Principal Investigators who visited the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) and the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (inStem) in Bangalore to explore mutual scientific interests and future projects. NCBS and inStem are both located on the impressive purpose-built campus in Bangalore where Professor Satyajit Mayor, who visited the Dundee in July, hosted the CLS team. The Bangalore visit included a day-and-a-half Symposium, during which Professor Mayor and Professor Mike Ferguson gave overviews of NCBS and the College of Life Sciences, respectively, followed by research seminars and divisional introductions by Principal Investigators from Dundee and Bangalore. These were followed-up in a full day of one-to-one discussions. Principal Investigators representing CLS were: Professor Jason Swedlow and Dr. Anton Gartner (Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression), Professor Geoff Barton (Computational Biology), Dr. Gordon Simpson (Plant Sciences), Professor Mike Ferguson (Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery) and Dr. Yogesh Kulathu, Dr. Thimo Kurz and Dr. Gopal Sapkota (MRC-Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit). Professor Ferguson said, “We were received with great hospitality and enthusiasm, and we enjoyed excellent scientific discussions that I am sure will lead to future collaborations. We are very grateful to the NCBS and inStem for looking after us so well, and we look forward to a reciprocal visit from their PIs next year.” The visit to Bangalore is part of the CLS Internationalisation agenda, lead by Geoff Gadd, which seeks to partner CLS with the best overseas research institutes. On the last day in India, the CLS team visited the Sultan’s tomb, the Palace at Mysore and the Chennakesava Temple, Somanathapura, where the accompanying photo was taken.
