Since joining NIAB from the commercial sector in 2007, Phil has worked on breeding and pre-breeding aspects including NIAB's flagship wheat resynthesis programme, the development of MAGIC populations, and general breeding input into many other projects. Most recently he has headed up several industrial collaborations, exploring niche markets for cereals and high-value oilseeds, and working with food companies seeking novel ingredients.
Anna is a molecular plant pathologist with a keen interest in understanding the mechanics of plant pathogen interactions. She obtained her PhD whilst working at HRI-Wellesbourne where she cloned the functional Resistance gene, RPP1 from Arabidopsis that recognises elicitors from the oomycete Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis.
Following a post-doc at the University of Manchester Anna joined NIAB, working in the plant pathogen diagnostics laboratory and gained rounded crop-focussed pathology knowledge.
Stephen Flack has responsibility for the management of the ACC work on the APHA contract for agricultural DUS and seed certification of agricultural species in England and Wales. Throughout his career, Stephen has worked mainly with crop certification, initially of potatoes and later for all agricultural crop species covered by the UK Seeds regulations, especially with the non-cereal crops. He has also been responsible for DUS (Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability) testing of sugar beet, field beans and for potato variety trials.
Lesley has lead a research programme investigating the genetics, cellular and molecular biology of partial, adult plant expressed and nonhost resistance to fungal pathogens in wheat since 1995. In 2012 Boyd moved her research programme to NIAB.
Professor Mario Caccamo was appointed as the Head of Crop Bioinformatics at NIAB in 2015, Managing Director of NIAB EMR in 2017 and NIAB CEO in October 2021.
A computer scientist by training, Professor Caccamo has over 20 years’ experience in life science research and big data, including specific projects to apply the latest DNA sequencing technologies and bioinformatics methods to advance scientific understanding of crop genetics and the interaction of agricultural crops with their environment.
