Info
CCP4 was established in 1979 in the UK to support collaboration between researchers developing software for macromolecular X-ray crystallography. Core team is based at the Research Complex at Harwell (RCaH) at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (Didcot, near Oxford). Funded by the UK BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council). The suite includes ~250 programs and is distributed to academic and commercial users worldwide.
Governance Structure
- Working Group 1 (WG1): meets annually at the Study Weekend; sets general policy. Open to UK structural biology PIs, experimental officers, and commercial license holders.
- Working Group 2 (WG2): forum for active crystallographic developers; oversees meetings and organizes the annual Study Weekend.
- Executive Committee: Chairs of WG1 and WG2, CCP4 Group Leader, and elected WG1 members. Day-to-day oversight.
People
Core Team (STFC/Harwell)
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Eugene Krissinel | CCP4 Group Leader / Infrastructure Lead |
| Charles Ballard | Core Team |
Executive / Key Contributors (from 2024 WG1 minutes)
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Ivo Tews | Exec member |
| Dave Hall | Exec member |
| Briony Yorke | Leeds, nominated to Exec 2024 |
| Arwen Pearson | WG participant |
Historical
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Phil Evans | MRC-LMB Cambridge, early CCP4 member |
| Eleanor Dodson | York, contributor from the beginning |
Funding
- Primary: BBSRC grants (currently 4-year cycle)
- Hosted by STFC Computational Science and Engineering Dept
- Commercial license revenue from industrial users
- CCP4 is free for academic use
Funding dynamics
CCP4 submitted a new 4-year BBSRC grant (discussed at WG1 2024). Inflation has pressured planning. Growing emphasis on AI/ML and interoperability with CCP-EM.
Key Relationships
- Tight coupling with CCP-EM (cryo-EM equivalent)
- Software overlap with PHENIX (both do refinement, model building)
- Many CCP4 contributors also participate in wwPDB X-Ray Validation Task Force
- Paul Adams sits on both CCP4 and PHENIX advisory structures
- CCP4 programs used within wwPDB OneDep pipeline
Key Reference
Acta Cryst D79 (2023), 449-61 (general CCP4 suite reference)