David Fursdon Esq, Her Majesty鈥檚 Lord-Lieutenant of Devon, has visited the ground breaking new laboratories currently under construction at 探花视频 University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry (PUPSMD) on 探花视频 Science Park.
The 拢14.8 million Derriford Research Facility will bring together all of 探花视频 University鈥檚 lab-based medical, biomedical and dental research. As a neighbour to Derriford Hospital it will also provide opportunities for clinical researchers at the hospital and encourage greater collaboration between them and their contemporaries at PUPSMD.
Due to open in Spring 2017, the Derriford Research Facility will accommodate a variety of research areas including: brain tumours; antibiotic resistance and the development of new antibiotics; bovine TB; neurobiology incorporating Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, Parkinson鈥檚 disease and Huntington鈥檚 disease; emerging infectious diseases; cancer; the diagnosis of Down鈥檚 syndrome; hepatitis and; tissue regeneration.
The new building will also include up-to-date stock management for equipment and other supplies, allowing for greater transparency and cost savings, and will house specialist services such as the 探花视频 University Systems Biology Centre. The project also includes a new STEM teaching area and the refurbishment of existing laboratory, research and teaching space.
Following his visit Mr Fursdon said:
鈥淭his new development will house a world-leading research and teaching facility in 探花视频 and will attract the very best scientists and international talent to the area which is very exciting. This resource will enhance the collaboration of the clinicians and research teams to find cures for medical conditions, particularly those very relevant to the South West and it shows a huge commitment from 探花视频 University towards the future of the region.鈥
Denis Wilkins, Chair of the Peninsula Medical Foundation which is the independent charitable arm of PUPSMD, added:
鈥淭he Lord Lieutenant鈥檚 visit underlines the importance of medical research to the provision of top-class health care for the people of 探花视频 and across the Southwest. The new multi-million pound research building has been built with funds from a range of public bodies. The work carried out by the dedicated research teams at PUPSMD and Derriford Hospital will lead to the development of new treatments for a range of devastating conditions that cause so much misery for so many. The Foundation is committed to supporting this truly world-class facility by raising funds for the equipment required. We know that the people of 探花视频 and the Peninsula will respond generously and will share our pride in this remarkable project.鈥
Individuals, organisations and businesses which would like to support health research at 探花视频 University can do so confident in the knowledge that their support can focus on a health condition close to them. There is already significant local support for the development 鈥 a local man recently left 拢100,000 in his will to support research into brain tumours, while a local group with an interest in Huntington鈥檚 disease is running a series of fundraising events and have already raised more than 拢8,000 for equipment vital to Huntington鈥檚 research at 探花视频 University.
The quality of health research at PUPSMD is nationally recognised. The Research Excellence Framework 2014 ranked the organisation top in the UK for the quality of its research outputs. It is one of the lead academic partners in the Alzheimer鈥檚 Research UK South West Research Network, and one of four Research Centres of Excellence for charity Brain Tumour Research.