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Cambridge Forum for Sustainability and the Environment

 

Biography

Professor Paul Dupree's research is focused on understanding the biosynthesis and function of polysaccharide components of the plant cell wall. He has made significant advances in the area of understanding and improving plant lignocellulosic biomass quality and quantity, research which underpins development of renewable materials, such as fuels from plants.

The Dupree Lab is one of the six research hubs in The BBSRC Sustainable Bioenergy Centre. This virtual centre is composed of academic and industrial partners, based at each of the Universities of Cambridge, Dundee, Nottingham and York and Rothamsted Research. Their contribution is the BSBEC Cell Wall Sugars Programme - developing strategies to improve plants and enzymes for increased sugar release from biomass. The programme aims to better understand how sugars are locked into plant cell walls. By doing this they can select the right plants and the right enzymes to release the maximum amount of sugars for conversion to biofuels.

His research group collaborate with industrial partners to test their ideas and are also actively involved in increasing both energy awareness and public understanding of the opportunities and challenges biotechnology and bioenergy provide. They are also part of the Leverhulme Centre for Natural Material Innovation, a collaboration between the departments of Architecture, Biochemistry, Chemistry and DAMTP that aims to understand and improve wood properties for building construction.



Professor of Biochemistry,
Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge
Professor Paul  Dupree
Not available for consultancy