George Banting

I am Professor of Molecular Cell Biology in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Bristol, having recently (Summer 2009) stepped down as Head of Department. I was an undergraduate student at the University of Salford, graduating with a degree in Applied Biology in 1979. I then worked as a research technician at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (ICRF, now CRUK) until 1982, spent a year working at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, then came back to the ICRF and enrolled for a Ph.D. (with the Council for National Academic Awards, CNAA) while working as a Research Officer. I was awarded my Ph.D. in 1987, then spent 2 years, as a Royal Society Fellow and EMBO Fellow at the European Molecular Biology Laboratories (EMBL) in Heidelberg before obtaining a lectureship in the Department of Biochemistry in Bristol in 1989. My work at ICRF focused on somatic cell genetics, my subsequent research work has focused on the molecular mechanisms underlying membrane traffic pathways in mammalian cells, i.e. how proteins end up in the right place in cells. I regularly review papers and grant applications for a range of organizations, have served on the Wellcome Trust 'Molecules, Genes and Cells' grant awarding panel and 'Strategy Committee' and chaired the Wellcome Trust 'Basic Science Interview Committee' for several years. I have also had several roles within the Biochemical Society, most recently as chair of the Editorial Board of the Biochemical Journal (2004-2008). I am married with three children (one with a degree in Geography with International Relations, one studying for a degree in Psychology and one on a post A-level gap year). I usually cycle to work, try to get to the gym when I can and enjoy a game of hockey at weekends (as well as a beer or two afterwards).