16.06.2004
On Monday 14 June BSMS unveiled a new state-of-the-art medical research building to support the School's expanding key research divisions. The building was opened by Sir Keith Peters, Regius Professor of Physic at the University of Cambridge, followed by a tour of the new facilities.
David Watson, Keith Peters, Alasdair Smith and Jon Cohen cut the
ribbon
The four-storey, modern building houses five fully-equipped research laboratories including a unit for work on microbial research, a tissue culture facility an image analysis and microscopy suite, together with other general laboratory facilities. There are sufficient write up areas to accommodate up to 40 researchers, plus offices for principal investigators and administrative staff.
Funded by HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England) with a £4.4m Science Research Infrastructure Fund grant, construction began in Spring 2003 and the first occupants have already moved in. Professor Di Watt, Dr Darrell Evans and Dr John Kay with their respective research teams, will be the first to take advantage of the excellent new facilities.
Professor Watt's work is geared towards developing cell-based therapies for muscle diseases and determining the factors which permit cells to become muscle.
Dr Evans' research focuses on the commitment of embryonic precursor cells during development using skeletal muscle as a model system. It is envisaged that this work may tie in with Professor Watt's research on determining factors which push muscle cells into proliferation or into terminal differentiation.
Dr John Kay's research group will continue to examine proteins that are primary targets for immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporine, FK-506 and Rapmycin.
The School's research projects also include established work carried out by Professor Ken Miles whose work concentrates on optical imaging in cancer. It is hoped that one future development might be to merge these two fields and employ the latest optical imaging techniques to further enhance the scope of muscle studies being undertaken by both Dr Evans and Professor Watt.
For further information contact: Laura Paliotta, Communications Coordinator, 01273 877844
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