News

New Centre for Bioactive Chemistry at Durham

(20 April 2005)

The University of Durham has created a new regional centre of excellence for science with the opening of a unique, integrated centre for Bioactive Chemistry.

The new £4.4 million project opens today (Wednesday April 20). It has been set up to facilitate interdisciplinary research programmes in biological chemistry and bioengineering, demonstrating the University's long-term commitment to the region's research, science and technology base.

Professor of Chemistry David Parker said: "The structure, stability and function of bioactive systems can only be understood once there is an appreciation at the molecular level of the chemical and biochemical processes involved. Such work is primarily the responsibility of the chemist, working in harmony with life, clinical, engineering and materials scientists."

The 1400m2 centre builds upon the already formidable reputation of Durham Chemistry, which is the only 5-star rated Chemistry department in the UK, north of Cambridge. It has been phenomenally successful over the past 15 years in supporting the local economy, industry and the University.

New facilities include a suite of custom-built science labs, including a category 2 sterile handling and cell culture facility, temperature controlled rooms, large laboratories for synthetic chemistry and dedicated chromatography and microscopy/spectroscopy suites.

The equipment and resources in the new laboratories will complement those already in place at the Centre for Integrative Cell Biology and the JIF-funded Materials Chemistry Research Building. The Centre for Bioactive Chemistry will house four research groups from Chemistry together with groups from Biology led by Prof Robert Edwards and Engineering led by Prof Tony Unsworth.

Several joint projects are already underway in the fields of bio-imaging, redox biochemistry, bio-catalysis and protein engineering. Recent staff appointments include Dr John Sanderson, Dr David Hodgson and Dr Andrew Whiting in Chemistry, three chairs in Biological & Biomedical Sciences; Roy Quinlan, Chris Hutchison and Adrian Walmsley and two lecturers, Martin Cann and Adam Benham. A Chair in Bioactive Chemistry is also being sought for October 2005.

The support received from the STBE programme (Durham County Partnership and One North East) has been critical in getting this initiative off the ground. Further joint research programmes are currently under development with members of the School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences where there are specific research strengths in stem cell and developmental biology, bio-imaging and microscopy, neuroscience and plant and microbial biochemistry.

Professor David Parker said : "We are particularly keen to reach out to local industrialists and research centres, to work together to develop understanding and trust in the definition of mutually agreed research programmes, partnerships and consultancy."

During the morning there was a series of presentations by key staff highlighting the various aspects of the work of the new centre, including interdisciplinary projects, and teaching and research excellence. Also featured were chemical biology, bio-probes, tissue engineering, biomaterials and current links with industry and bioactive chemistry.

The setting up of the new Centre for Bioactive Chemistry is supported by BioNE2t , CELS Ltd, European Regional Development Fund and Sigma-Aldrich Company Ltd

ends

For further information contact : Professor David Parker, Head of Department of Chemistry, University of Durham Tel 0191 334 2033

Media enquiries to : Tom Fennelly, Public Relations Office, University of Durham Tel 0101 334 6078 e-mail :t.tp.fennelly@durham.ac.uk