The University of Nottingham has received a grant of £250,000 to establish a new Centre for Global Virus Research.
The award was given through the prestigious Laboratory Refurbishment Scheme, a programme funded by the
Wolfson Foundation and administered by the
Royal Society, the world's oldest independent scientific academy dedicated to promoting excellence in science.
Jonathan Ball, Professor of Molecular Virology in the University of Nottingham's School of Life Sciences, said: “The Wolfson Refurbishment grant will enable us to overcome geographical fragmentation of virus research efforts here at Nottingham. Many of the emerging health threats span both veterinary and human virology and the refurbished laboratories will enable us to collocate researchers who historically, were split between these two areas.
“By joining together in shared laboratory space we will be able to merge interests and expertise, creating much-needed synergy, shared thinking and greater critical mass to allow us to effectively contribute to the global battle against emerging virus infections.”
Fight against infectious diseases
As well as the University of Nottingham, the Universities of St Andrews, Glasgow, Keele, Sheffield and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine all received grants for laboratories where they conduct work into areas such as global viruses, models of human infection, anti-infection measures and parasites.
Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation said, “Infectious diseases are a serious global issue and UK researchers are playing a key role in the fight against these. The Foundation is delighted to be working in partnership with the Royal Society to ensure that scientists in this field have outstanding facilities across the country to enable them to carry out this vital work.”
Dr Julie Maxton CBE Executive Director of the Royal Society said, “We are pleased to continue our partnership with The Wolfson Foundation. It is absolutely crucial that scientists have access to excellent equipment and infrastructure that facilitates their high quality scientific research. This generous donation of £1.3million will enable scientists at the forefront of the fight against infectious diseases to continue their important work.”
Since the launch of the Laboratory Refurbishment Scheme programme in 1998, the Wolfson Foundation has committed more than £30 million to recognise and improve scientific work in a variety of areas within society, and this year has awarded another £1.38m to help research laboratories that fight the growing problem of infectious diseases.
UK-based laboratories and labs overseas owned by UK research organisations and universities were eligible to apply for £250,000 to make physical improvements to their facilities, which will support excellence in scientific research. In order to receive funding, organisations had to focus on infection research of humans, animals and fish, immunity and resistance, and transmission and distribution.
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