Babraham Institute welcomes Professor Sir Jim Smith as Interim Director

The Institute is delighted to welcome Professor Jim Smith as Interim Director. The Board of Trustees has appointed Professor Smith as Dr Simon Cook returns to his role as Head of the Signalling research programme. Dr Cook took over as Director in 2021 at a critical time for the Institute. In 2023 he led the Institute through a quinquennial review which saw the Institute’s research rated as internationally leading and secured its strategic funding. 

Professor Dame Linda Partridge said: “The Board is most grateful to Dr Cook for his contribution as Director. We look forward to welcoming Professor Smith who knows the Institute well and brings with him a wealth of experience in science leadership.”

Professor Smith is currently Chair of the Council of the Zoological Society of London and Emeritus Scientist at the Francis Crick Institute. His research focussed on cell-cell interactions in early vertebrate development and in stem cell differentiation. He has been Director of the Gurdon Institute and a member of the Babraham Board, and more recently was Director of Research at the Francis Crick Institute, Deputy CEO of the Medical Research Council, and Director of Science at the Wellcome Trust.

Professor Smith said: “I am very pleased to have been appointed by the Board of Trustees to lead the Institute. I look forward to working with the team at the Babraham Institute to allow the Institute to continue delivering world-class science.”

The Institute will seek to recruit a new permanent director in the coming year.