Dundee a Research Success Story
A reputation for excellence
The University of Dundee has powered its way to a position as one of Europe's leading universities with an international reputation for excellence in life sciences and laboratory based medicine. The University of Dundee is a key component in a key UK cluster in biotechnology.
Commercialisation
Dundee couples excellence in research with a strong drive for commercialisation - successful areas of knowledge transfer include:
- Kinase expertise - the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy - a £23 m partnership with six of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies and the MRC. To understand more about this partnership in relation to the University of Dundee, download this short PDF document - A model of co-operation between Industry and Academia.
- 19 spinout companies, 14 of these emerging since 2000. Companies of note include Cyclacel, CXR Biosciences and Axis Shield plc.
Dalziel + Scullion
Dundee University based contemporary artists Dalziel + Scullion have carried out many public art commissions including The Horn on Scotland's M8 motorway.
Known for their interest in landscape and concern for environmental issues, a recent commission of giant billboard photography Breath Taking acted as a response and stimulus to the debate on windfarming in the UK and wider issues of energy consumption and growth.
The artists have found material and ready collaborators in the university's science base.
For further information visit the Dalziel + Scullion website.
Professor Sir Philip Cohen
Professor Sir Philip Cohen has been studying Protein Phosphorylation for 35 years, during which it has been recognised as one of the body's principal control mechanisms. Abnormalities in Protein Phosphorylation are a cause of cancer, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis and are now a major focus for the pharmaceutical industry. Professors Cohen's achievements in this field have led to a long-term multi million pound collaboration with a consortium of pharma partners and the MRC to speed up the development of specific inhibitors of kinases and phosphatases for their drug discovery programmes.
Medical research
Building on its reputation in medical research Dundee University was chosen to host the hub laboratory for the Translational Medicine Research Collaboration (TMRC), a £50 M project between four of Scotland's leading universities, the NHS and Scottish Enterprise. The TMRC carries out research into serious medical disorders.
Drug discovery
The University has adopted a unique approach to drug discovery in a university setting by setting up a £13M Drug Discovery Unit. The unit will engage in drug discovery in novel and challenging areas such as tropical disease which the pharmaceutical industry cannot engage with.
The Unit has been described by the Chancellor Gordon Brown as "truly pathbreaking" and is the recipient of one of the Wellcome Trust's largest ever grants (£8.1 M).
Tayside Clinical Research Centre
In 2005/06 both NHS and University staff were involved in over 650 clinical research projects across Tayside. Many of these were undertaken within wards or outpatient settings, without the benefit of site wide standardised operating procedures and staff training. The £10.5M Clinical Research Centre building was completed in December 2007 and was officially opened by Nicola Sturgeon MSP Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on July 9th 2008.
The CRC provides a comprehensive environment under one roof, with dedicated and experienced staff onsite, therefore reducing the pressure on NHS resources and facilities.
Currently the CRC has over 102 clinical trials running from CRC Tayside and 11 in setup. These trials cover all health spectrums, including Oncology, Diabetes, Cardiovascular, Dental and Haematology.
To read more about the Tayside Clinical Research Centre, visit www.taysidecrc.org