Professor Derek Burke

Professor Burke has been a specialist adviser to the House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology, since 1995. He is a former member of the Governing Body of the Institute for Food Research in Norwich (UK) and of the Science, Medical and Technology Committee of the Church of England's Board for Social Responsibility. During a research career devoted to the study of influenza virus and interferon, he notably led the group that cloned the human interferon genes and made the first monoclonal antibody against human interferon. As Vice-President and Scientific Director, he also helped to start Allelix, Canada's biggest biotechnology company. He has been active on various boards and committees focusing on science, engineering, and technology, and he contributed to a recent report on "Genetically Modified Crops: the Ethical and Social Issues".