Prof Sir Jim Smith joined the Â鶹ÊÓƵ in 2026 as Interim Director.
Professor Smith is currently Chair of the Council of the Zoological Society of London and Emeritus Scientist at the Francis Crick Â鶹ÊÓƵ. His research focussed on cell-cell interactions in early vertebrate development and in stem cell differentiation. He has been Director of the Gurdon Â鶹ÊÓƵ and a member of the Babraham Board, and more recently was Director of Research at the Francis Crick Â鶹ÊÓƵ, Deputy CEO of the Medical Research Council, and Director of Science at the Wellcome Trust.