Philip Mullineaux

Prof Philip Mullineaux is Principal Research Scientist at the John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK, where he works in the Disease and Stress Biology Department at the John Innes Centre. The Director of the JIC, Professor Chris Lamb, is also a member of the department. He is a visiting Professor at the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Essex. Dr Mullineaux is also a member of the DTI Link project management committee for Horticulture. He was a member of ACRE, the UK's regulatory body on GM crop releases, from 1999 to 2002.

Phil Mullineaux leads a large team of scientists. His group studies the molecular genetics of plants' responses to oxidative stress caused by excessive light levels. He is also interested in 'transformation technologies', particularly as regards peas.

This has led to applications to ACRE for the release of GM peas by Mullineaux, which required him to absent himself from the room. In the case of applications by colleagues at the John Innes Centre to release genetically modified barley, Mullineaux stayed in the room without taking part in discussions.

Mullineaux's membership of ACRE has led to controversy because of the JIC's connections to Lord Sainsbury and the fact Mullineaux's research has been financially supported by the biotechnology giants Monsanto and Syngenta. (Dossier reveals Ministers' worries over connections between science experts and leading drugs firms)