report

Report of the General Board on the establishment of a Trophoblast Research Fund

The GENERAL BOARD beg leave to report to the University as follows:

1. Trophoblasts are the cells of the early embryo that interact with the uterus, mediating implantation, placental development, nourishment, and protection of the foetus. Failure of trophoblast function at any stage of pregnancy leads to complications that present health risks to both mother and child. Trophoblast research in its broad sense is the study of the cellular interactions between the foetus and the mother during pregnancy.

2. Members of the University have made many distinguished contributions to the field of trophoblast biology in the past. Current research is multi-disciplinary and spans a number of different departments and allied institutes. The earliest molecular stages of trophoblast differentiation are studied in the Gurdon Institute, and immunological interactions with the maternal tissues in the Department of Pathology. Placental development and physiological function is researched in the Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience, with collaborations at the Babraham Institute. The clinical impact of trophoblast function on pregnancy outcome is studied in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and in the Veterinary School.

3. The General Board have accepted a proposal from the Council of the School of the Biological Sciences that a new interdisciplinary Centre for Trophoblast Research be led from within the School to be supported by a donation of £5m received from Cambridge in America to establish a Trophoblast Research Fund for this purpose. The Centre will involve many academic and research staff in Cambridge with research interests in these fields. The aim is to promote intellectual interactions between these groups, foster research collaborations, and provide the highest international standard of teaching and research training.

4. The goals of the Centre will include the promotion of research and teaching in placental biology through Research Fellowships, Studentships, seminars, workshops, and infrastructural support. Co-operation with outside bodies in the promotion of research and teaching in placental biology internationally will be enabled through Visiting Scholarships, travel awards, and research meetings.

5. The General Board recommend:

That a Trophoblast Research Fund be established and governed by the regulations set out in the Schedule to this Report.

SCHEDULE

Trophoblast Research Fund

1. The sum of £5m received by the University from the Board of Cambridge in America shall form a fund to be known as the Trophoblast Research Fund, which shall be used to perpetuate the study of placental biology, with special reference to the trophoblast.

2. The Fund, together with any further donations received for the same purpose, shall form an endowment to support a Centre for Trophoblast Research within the School of Biological Sciences. In each financial year for a five-year period covering the financial years 2007-08 to 2011-12, the income of the Fund, and up to 5% of the capital of the Fund at the start of the financial year, shall be available to support the activities of the Centre. Any unexpended income of the Fund in any financial year may be accumulated and expended in any one or more subsequent years. After the financial year 2011-12, only the income of the Fund, including accumulated income, shall be available to support the Centre.

3. The goals of the Centre shall be:

(i)	to promote research and teaching in placental biology within the University and affiliated institutes through Next Generation Research Fellowships, Studentships, seminars, workshops, and infrastructural support;
(ii)	to co-operate with outside bodies in the promotion of research and teaching in placental biology internationally through Visiting Scholarships, travel awards, and research meetings;
(iii)	to foster research into placental biology by any other means.

4. The administration of the Fund shall be under the control of a Board of Managers consisting of:

(a)	the Head of the Department of Physiology, Development, and Neuroscience;
(b)	four persons working in relevant scientific disciplines, of whom at least three shall be members of the Regent House, appointed by the Council of the School of the Biological Sciences.

5. Members in class (b) shall be appointed in the Michaelmas Term to serve from 1 January following their appointment for two or four years as the Council of the School of the Biological Sciences shall determine at their appointment.

6. The Board of Managers shall elect one of their members, being a member of the Regent House, to serve as Director of the Centre, subject to the approval of the General Board. He or she shall hold office for four years, and shall be eligible for reappointment for a further term of four years.

7. The Director shall be the administrative head of the Centre, and shall be advised by the Scientific Advisory Board and the Board of Managers.

8. The Board shall normally meet twice each academical year.

Scientific Advisory Board

1. The Centre shall have an international Scientific Advisory Board, which shall consist of no fewer than four highly distinguished persons in relevant scientific disciplines appointed by the Council of the School of the Biological Sciences on the recommendation of the Board of Managers.

2. Members of the Advisory Board shall be appointed in the Michaelmas Term to serve for four years from 1 January following their appointment.

3. The Council of the School of the Biological Sciences, in making their appointments to the Advisory Board, shall ensure that not more than one of its members is a resident member of the University.

4. The Chairman of the Advisory Board shall be appointed by the Council of the School of the Biological Sciences for a period of not more than three years and shall be eligible for reappointment for a period or periods of not more than three years at a time.

5. The Director of the Centre shall serve as Secretary of the Advisory Board.

6. The Advisory Board shall meet at least once every two years.

7. The duty of the Advisory Board shall be to advise the Director of the Centre on all aspects of the scientific programme, policy, and future directions of the Centre.

Visiting Scholars

1. In order to enable scholars from outside Cambridge to take part in and contribute to the work of the Centre there shall be Visiting Scholarships for persons who are pursuing advanced work in placental biology.

2. Appointments of Visiting Scholars shall be made by the Director of the Centre in consultation with at least two of the Managers.

3. Visiting Scholars shall be required under the general supervision of the Director to take part in the teaching and research programme of the Centre.

4. The Director may make grants to Visiting Scholars to meet travelling or other expenses incurred in connection with their appointment.

Next Generation Fellowships

1. In order to enable innovative research to be pursued, at all levels in the Centre, a number of Next Generation Fellowships may be awarded.

2. The Managers shall decide upon the number of Next Generation Fellows to be funded each year. The Director of the Centre shall be responsible for awarding the Fellowships, in consultation with the Managers.

3. A Fellowship shall be tenable for one or more years at a time, and may be renewed by the Managers for up to a total of five years.

4. The value of each Fellowship shall be determined by the Managers, taking into account other sources of research funding available to the Fellow.

Studentships

1. The Electors to a Studentship shall be the Managers.

2. In order to be eligible for a Studentship, a candidate must have been admitted, or be seeking admission, as a student studying towards the Ph.D. Degree in reproductive biology within the School of Biological Sciences.

3. The Studentship shall provide

(a)	a maintenance payment, in line with that provided to postgraduate students by the Wellcome Trust and determined from time to time by the Managers, for a period of up to no more than four years,
(b)	a payment to meet the Student's University and College fees,
(c)	a contribution to other costs such as equipment, consumables, travel expenses, and other costs according to the discretion of the Managers to be in accordance with the prevailing norms offered by the relevant Research Councils.