The Research Councils fund and coordinate a number of major multidisciplinary research programmes. These include:
The Energy Programme
(previously Towards A Sustainable Energy Economy Programme)
The demand for energy is increasing throughout the world, but meeting this demand with fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming. The challenge is to find reliable, diverse, affordable, publicly acceptable and safe ways to supply and use energy, and address energy efficiency. EPSRC is coordinating a comprehensive programme of energy research, working closely with BBSRC, ESRC, NERC and STFC.
e-Science
The e-Science programme is about addressing the major challenges in the processing, storage, communication and visualisation of increasingly large and complex amounts of data and information. It aims to give UK researchers a leading position in the development and exploitation of “grid” technologies, which aid the sharing and use of data from different sources.
EPSRC runs the e-Science Core programme engaging with the communities of all Research Councils. All Councils coordinate support for their community specific e-Science agendas.
Basic Technology
This programme was established to develop new and novel technologies with the potential to be adapted for use on a diverse range of research problems and challenges. It seeks to create fundamentally new capabilities across all areas of science, and form the basis of new industries of the future. EPSRC runs the programme with engagement from all of the other Research Councils.
Brain Science
Understanding the brain, its complex functions in health and disease and its interactions with the environment is one of the greatest intellectual challenges of our time. MRC, working with BBSRC, EPSRC and STFC, is coordinating work to strengthen brain sciences research in the UK.
BBSRC, MRC, ESRC, EPSRC and the Wellcome Trust are building on the ideas developed through the Cognitive Systems Foresight project to encourage joint working on natural and artificial information processing systems.
Genomics
The amount of information known about the DNA sequence of different animals and plants is increasing rapidly. This knowledge will impact on medicine, agriculture, the environment and biotechnology. BBSRC, ESRC, EPSRC, MRC, NERC and STFC are coordinating activities and funding research through a number of programmes to focus on such issues as understanding the interaction between genetics and the environment, and the risks and benefits of gene modification and therapy.
Rural Economy and Land Use
Funding from ESRC, NERC, and BBSRC has enabled researchers to work together to investigate the social, economic, environmental and technological challenges faced by rural areas in the UK.
Stem Cells
Stem cell therapy is a potentially revolutionary way to repair diseased and damaged body parts with healthy new cells. However, a large amount of research is needed to understand how stem cells work and how their potential could be harnessed for medical treatments. MRC, working with BBSRC, ESRC, EPSRC and STFC is coordinating support for research into the basic biology of stem cell signalling and differentiation, as well as research addressing translational issues in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.