Mark F. Cantley

Mark Cantley has since January 1999 rejoined the European Commission, as Adviser in the Directorate for Life Sciences (Biotechnology, Agriculture and Food) in the Directorate-General for Research of the European Commission.  Current responsibilities include in particular reflection on the medium term evolution of the knowledge base for the life sciences in Europe.

From 1993 to December 1998, he headed the Biotechnology Unit within the Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry of OECD, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development;  and was Secretary of its Internal Co-ordination Group for Biotechnology.   This work addressed policy issues in agriculture and food, health care and pharmaceuticals, and environmental services;  on aspects such as safety regulations, intellectual property rights, and the financing of international research infrastructure.

He was previously (1984-92) Head of the "CUBE" (Concertation Unit for Biotechnology in Europe) in the European Commission, responsible inter alia for initiatives in public information, consumer dialogue, Eurobarometer opinion surveys, bioinformatics infrastructure, collaboration with developing countries on exploitation of genetic resources, and secretariat of the Biotechnology Regulation Inter-service Committee, 1985-1990.

His earlier career covered a number of industries, starting in iron and steel, and usually from the sceptical perspective of a training in operational research.  His degrees are in Mathematics (B.A. Cambridge);  Economics (M.Sc. London);  Operational Research (Dip., London);  and Accounting and Finance (C.Dip.A.F.).