The Princess Royal is to see at first hand the work of leading researchers in the University of York's biology department tomorrow.

The Princess Royal: to see York research work

She will hear about work in cancer research, and the encouragement of spin-off companies from the university.

The biology research department is one of Britain's largest and most prestigious.

It has the highest ratings for teaching and research and was recently awarded over £20 million by the joint Infastructure Fund for a major redevelopment of its facilities. The Princess will meet Dr Ottoline Leyser, Dr Simon Mcqueen-Mason and Dr Dawn Worrall to hear about their work in the plant laboratory.

Their research includes the manufacture of a new water-resistant glue, derived from mussels, which could be used in dentistry and other medical applications.

They are also working on a newly-discovered anti-freeze protein found in carrots, which could be used in frozen foods, for crop protection in frost and the freezing of organs before transplant. Dr Julian White will tell the Princess about work to encourage spin-off companies from the University's biological research.

Among the projects is the bioincubator, which gives vital support to such businesses in their early stages.

Professor Norman Maitland will also outline the work of the cancer research unit, which has recently made a dramatic breakthrough in the study of cervical cancer.

His team have discovered the structure of a protein that controls the papillomavirus - the principal cause of the cancer.

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