PA 81/14
The University of Nottingham is to partner Oxford University in a new Biomedical Imaging Doctoral Training Centre.
Postgraduate training in a wide range of engineering and scientific fields is important to the UK’s economy. The Oxford-Nottingham Biomedical Imaging (ONBI) CDT brings together two of the UK’s world-leading research universities in an innovative programme of teaching and research in biomedical imaging.
The new £3.7m centre is one of 22 new Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, The Rt. Hon George Osborne MP. It will provide 55 doctoral students with a uniquely broad exposure to all aspects of biomedical imaging, from cellular microscopy to clinical radiology, and from hardware development to image analysis. Research projects will intentionally include complementary elements from different ends of this spectrum, such that students can cross-fertilize ideas across imaging scales and disciplines.
The new centre is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC).
The research will involve MRI, magnetoencephalography, positron emission tomography and image analysis.
Penny Gowland, Professor of Physics in the School of Physics and Astronomy at The University of Nottingham, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded EPSRC and MRC funding to establish a Centre for Doctoral Training in Biomedical Imaging, which will be run jointly with Oxford University. We are very proud of our history of training biomedical imaging scientists at Nottingham, based on our world leading expertise in this area. The award of this CDT will allow us to forge new links between groups working on a range of different imaging techniques in Nottingham and Oxford and to provide a world class, multidisciplinary training programme that will produce the future leaders in this important area of research.”
The new CDTs come on top of the 91 Centres previously announced by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in November 2013 and January 2014.
EPSRC and other research councils have been able to fund these new centres following a £106 million investment announced in the Budget, and by negotiating with universities, industrial partners and the Scottish Funding Council, to maximise the number of centres and the students they will be supporting.
Mr Osborne said: “A forward looking, modern industrial strategy is part of our long term economic plan to deliver security, jobs and growth to all parts of the UK. Our investment in Centres for Doctoral training will inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers, ensuring Britain leads the world in high-tech research and manufacturing.”
This latest Government investment in a further 1100 students through an additional 22 Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs), brings the total investment in CDTs to over £500 million.
In addition, universities, industry and other charitable partners will be adding a further £70 million to their already large contribution of £374 million to support the training of tomorrow’s scientists and engineers. The combined public and private investment amounts to over £950 million.
Professor David Delpy, Chief Executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), said: “We have been working hard with universities and partners to ensure that as many centres as possible can be supported.
“The CDT model has proved highly popular with universities and industry and these new Centres will mean that the UK is even better placed to maintain the vital supply of trained scientists and engineers.”
— Ends —
Our academics can now be interviewed for broadcast via our new Globelynx fixed camera facility at the University. For further information please contact a member of the Communications team on +44 (0)115 951 5798, email mediahub@nottingham.ac.uk or see the Globelynx website for how to register for this service.
For up to the minute media alerts follow us on Twitter
Notes to editors: The University of Nottinghamhas 43,000 students and is ‘the nearest Britain has to a truly global university, with campuses in China and Malaysia modelled on a headquarters that is among the most attractive in Britain’ (Times Good University Guide 2014). It is also the most popular university among graduate employers, the world’s greenest university, and winner of the Times Higher Education Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development’. It is ranked in the World's Top 75 universities by the QS World University Rankings.
Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest-ever fundraising campaign, is delivering the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future. More news…