Cell research centre work begins
6:10pm Wednesday 15th October 2008
WORK has begun on a new £18m building to provide a unique and world-class centre for bacterial cell biology at a North-East university.
Research in the new building at Newcastle University will aim to answer fundamental questions about bacteria cells - how they develop and how they can be controlled.
The research will help develop new ways of controlling infectious diseases by providing new information on how bacteria work.
Work will also concentrate on the crucial area of developing new kinds of antibiotics to combat bacterial strains which are becoming resistant to current treatments.
Jeff Errington, who is leading the centre, said: "Work is just starting on this exciting development which will provide state-of-the-art labs and work space for world-leading scientists.
"We're already one of the largest groups of this kind in the world and the work we're doing - as well as the new building - means we're attracting some of the best scientists.
"These fundamental studies into bacteria help our understanding of many illnesses and we are already developing new treatments for conditions such as MRSA and C difficile.
"What we have here in Newcastle is a team that has the potential to become a scientific powerhouse."
The Wellcome Trust provided £6m of funding for the new building - the biggest of its capital grants made in the UK.
As part of the Science City initiative the team hopes to promote the development of new biotech industries in the North-East.