Within the School of Biosciences, research activities are focused in the area of biotechnology for the improvement of plants/crops for food, non-food and medicinal uses.  The following research areas reflect the expertise of staff, the acquisition of research funds and recent applications for grants.

Use of molecular markers as a means of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of genetic improvement programmes in tropical crops

Underutilised crops

Plant-pathogen interactions, e.g. the pathogenicity of Ganoderma species causing basal stem rot in oil palms

Fungal genetics 

Food microbiology

Biological control of crop pests and diseases

Control and expression of morphogenesis in the cloning of plants

Extending the post-harvest life of tropical fruits

Development of vaccines in plant systems

Molecular approaches to understand the genetics of agronomic traits in crop plants

Molecular genetic analysis and their application in crop improvement programmes

Studies on potential anticancer, bactericidal and immunomodulating properties of plant extracts 

Development of combinatory anticancer treatment using cancer gene therapy and plant extracts

The AAR-UNMC Biotechnology Research Centre 

The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus has established a strong collaboration with Applied Agricultural Resources Sdn. Bhd (AAR), an internationally recognised premier centre in plantation crop research.  This collaboration has resulted in a new state of the art biotechnology research centre in Semenyih, Selangor.  Initial emphasis on research and development is on oil palm, with a focus in the area of oil palm genetic improvement through modern molecular techniques.  Research areas being explored include the use of DNA to detect illegitimate crosses, tissue culture mix-ups and other identity-related issues.  DNA fingerprinting technology will be utilised to authenticate the in-house breeds and clones for intellectual property rights.

The Centre will also seek to hasten traditional breeding programmes through genetic relationship studies to determine desirable oil palm breeding partners.  In order to speed up the breeding programmes, marker-assisted selection technology will be developed for early selection of wanted/unwanted traits at DNA level, rather than selection after the oil palm starts fruiting and yielding.  Traits of interest include oil quality, tree height and fruit colour.  In the future, genetic engineering technology can be used to overcome the barrier of introducing new trait(s) into oil palm.  This technology together with marker assisted selection and tissue culture can speed up the production of new oil palm varieties, with desirable traits, such as high value oil, disease resistance and amenability to mechanised harvesting.

Industry-academic collaboration is important because it provides facilities for high level biotechnology research for students and also links students directly to potential employers.