centre for molecular biosciences

The £14.5 million Centre for Molecular Biosciences, funded under the Department for Employment and Learning’s SPUR initiative, was launched at the University’s Coleraine campus by Lord Sainsbury of Turville, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Science and Innovation. The £14.5 million represents the largest single research award ever made to a university in Northern Ireland.

Speaking at the launch, the Vice-Chancellor said:
“The Centre for Molecular Biosciences is a flagship research project for the University. Our work in cancer and ageing, nutrition, diabetes, vision science, biotechnology and radiation science places us at the centre of the diagnosis and treatment of diseases which are amongst the most serious threats to the health of our society.”

The Centre will be equipped to the highest possible specification, with specialist facilities for accommodation of volunteers for long-term nutritional experiments, and for the latest forms of molecular analysis.

The Vice-Chancellor continued:
“The Centre brings together world class researchers and state of-the-art facilities under one roof to investigate the causes of illness and disease.”

Speaking at the launch, Lord Sainsbury said:
“The new Centre for Molecular Biosciences will be a focus for world-class research by the UK’s top scientists. The state-of-the art facility, once developed, will enable dramatic expansion and diversification in the already high profile field of biomedical sciences. It will enhance the University of Ulster’s existing strengths in technology transfer between the increasing number of biomedical researchers and biotechnological companies in Northern Ireland.”

Centre Co-Director Professor Stephen Downes said:
“We will be studying the factors that predispose people to the sort of illnesses that most of us will develop as we get older: cancer, diabetes, heart disease, deteriorating vision, failing or over-active immune systems. We will particularly be working on factors in the diet that can retard or promote these diseases.”

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