The Cambridge Systems Biology Centre (CSBC) is a virtual centre bringing together research groups from across the University of Cambridge with an interest in the development and integration of the large-scale experimental technologies that facilitate systems research.
The centre also promotes access to these technologies for the wider Cambridge research communities.
Many research groups in Cambridge take advantage of the resources within CSBC for the generation and analysis of genomics, proteomics and metabolomics data. Frequently these collaborations develop into joint projects with investigators becoming members of the virtual centre.
Historically, CSBC was established in November 2006 by Steve Russell, Kathryn Lilley and Gos Micklem via a University funded £10M refurbishment of the former Gurdon Institute to accommodate the CSBC and the Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research. Prior to this, the experimental infrastructure for the CSBC was built via considerable investment by the BBSRC in functional genomics and proteomics technologies for the UK Arabidopsis and Drosophila research communities, primarily through the Investigating Gene Function Initiative. Grants of approximately £7M to the Departments of Genetics and Biochemistry helped establish the FlyChip microarray facility and the Cambridge Centre for Proteomics. Alongside the experimental resources, computational infrastructure has developed, primarily via Wellcome Trust funding for the InterMine database group. The consolidated research space has allowed recruitment of new principal investigators to extend the mathematical and computational expertise of the Centre. CSBC groups also occupy space in other departments, including the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and DAMTP.
Since 2007, CSBC has been directed by Steve Oliver. Kathryn Lilley was director from 2017-2018. In December 2018, the physical CSBC based in the Gleeson Building on Tennis Court Road, was vacated to make room for the MRC-Toxicology Unit. CSBC now operates as a virtual centre with the relocated groups now based in the Department of Genetics and the Milner Institute.
CSBC encompasses a variety of genomics, proteomics and metabolomics technologies, extensive mass spectrometry resources and computer clusters for data analysis and warehousing.
For more information about these resources go to: