News

University partnership spreads benefits across the North

(8 November 2011)

L-R Professor Chris Higgins (Durham University) & Professor Chris Brink (Newcastle University)

A ground-breaking partnership between two of the country's top universities is helping to attract significant funding for scientific work in the North.

The Angel Alliance of Durham and Newcastle universities, established in 2008, has helped secure major grants from Government and a number of national research centres to further important work in a range of scientific disciplines.

The partnership has already secured funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to explore a range of projects including:  tackling bacterial infections on medical devices, understanding the reasons for artificial knee joint failures and exploring a new approach to leukaemia drug delivery.  In addition, the Angel Alliance has also secured a £2.2m grant from Cancer Research UK and a number of other medical research councils to develop imaging biomarkers for targeted cancer therapy.

Durham and Newcastle universities are part of the N8 Research Partnership of the North's leading universities.

Professor Chris Brink, Vice-Chancellor of Newcastle University, explained: "Individually, Newcastle and Durham universities have complementary research strengths which we have been able to build on through the Angel Alliance in order to leverage significant additional resources to the region.

"Our effective collaboration over the past three years has helped present a powerful case to funding bodies and allowed us to make some important advances in a number of areas of research."  

Last year, the Angel Alliance also contributed to securing £9m in funding from the Economic and Social Research Council to strengthen research in Social Science subjects and establish a Durham and Newcastle doctoral training centre.

Professor Chris Higgins, Vice-Chancellor of Durham University, said: "Durham and Newcastle universities are two of the biggest contributors to the economy of the region and have complementary strengths in research and teaching.

"By working together in specific areas, as for example our innovative collaboration in medicine, we can maximise the impact we have on the economy and well-being of the region and the UK."

The Angel Alliance was first formed in 2008 as a partnership between Durham University, Newcastle University and regional development agency, One North East. With One North East winding down in March 2012, both universities are committed to continuing the Angel Alliance with several funding bids already in progress to further specific joint research projects.

Durham and Newcastle universities, together with the Centre for Life are also working together on The North East Beacon Project, connecting local people with the expertise on their doorstep. The project is part of the national Beacons for Public Engagement project.