Moore welcomes 拢29 million support for life sciences
UK Government to award money to life science centre's in Dundee, Edinburgh and Strathclyde
The Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore has welcomed the news the UK Government is to award 拢29 million to life sciences across the UK, including an e-health research centre in Dundee. Edinburgh, Strathclyde and Dundee universities will also received funding to support academics and SMEs explore the market potential of their ideas.
Ministers announced substantial new funding awards to boost the UK life sciences industry, as UK and international delegates meet in London for the British Business Embassy Life Sciences summit.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley and Universities and Science Minister David Willetts announced that the first awards totalling 拢10 million from Government鈥檚 拢180 million Biomedical Catalyst have been awarded to fourteen UK universities and 18 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). These include Dundee, Edinburgh and Strathclyde.
David Willetts also announced that the Medical Research Council and a consortium of 10 UK Government and charity research funders have invested 拢19 million to establish four e-health research centres in London, Manchester, Dundee and Swansea. The new centres will enable the UK to make more effective use of electronic health data聽- a field with huge possibilities for health care delivery and the understanding of disease.
Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said: 鈥淪cotland鈥檚 life sciences sector is receiving a significant boost as part of the UK. It is an important sector which harnesses cutting edge research to commercial opportunity, whether in biotech, pharmaceuticals, healthcare or medical technologies.
鈥淪cotland has led the way in many respect and today鈥檚 news will help the centres of excellence in our cities and universities to develop further as we collaborate within the UK and across the world. It underlines the strength and benefits of Scotland as part of the UK.
鈥淭he Global Business Summit on Life Sciences will also introduce some of the world鈥檚 most important and influential sector leaders to see what the UK have to offer.鈥�
The Life Sciences Day is one of 18 global business summits being organised by UK Trade & Investment to promote UK businesses and facilitate international trade during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
300 UK and international healthcare delegates will discuss the ways in which change in healthcare can be achieved through collaboration between industry, academia and healthcare providers. The event will also focus on how translational research can be used to develop novel therapeutics and medical technologies and examine the expanding role of informatics and digital technology in healthcare delivery.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) and Technology Strategy Board have made the first funding awards under the joint 拢180 million Biomedical Catalyst set up with Government support. The MRC 鈥淐onfidence in Concept鈥� awards, totalling 拢7.4 million, will give universities grants of between 拢360,000 and 拢750,000 to help them progress more promising research ideas towards clinical testing.
The recipients are:
- University of Cambridge: 拢600,000
- University of Dundee: 拢750,000
- University of Edinburgh: 拢700,000
- Imperial College London: 拢700,000
- King鈥檚 College London: 拢500,000
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine: 拢250,000
- University of Nottingham: 拢400,000
- University of Oxford: 拢750,000
- Queens University Belfast: 拢300,000
- University College London: 拢700,000
- University of Birmingham: 拢600,000
- University of Manchester: 拢500,000
- University of Sheffield: 拢360,000
- University of Strathclyde: 拢300,000