Chemistry celebrates triple success
Posted on 6 May 1998
A new Centre for Structural Biology with funding of over 1m over four years has been awarded to the department of Chemistry by the Biology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The Centre is awarded as a result of the department's expertise in protein structure research.
The Salters Institute of Industrial Chemistry is to part-fund a professorship and two research fellows with funding of 800,000 over five years. The Salters Institute has sponsored the development of the highly successful Salters Science courses at York since the early 1980s.
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has awarded the department of Chemistry 457,500 to refurbish research laboratories, a sum matched by University investment, bringing the total refurbishment budget to nearly 1m. These funds, achieved through national competition with other universities, are made on the basis of research quality.
"When we have three such major successes, it demonstrates the whole department's achievements and efforts," said Professor Bruce Gilbert, head of department. "Establishing the Centre for Structural Biology at York is a key reward for our special expertise in determining the structure and function of proteins, and the Salters funds will boost the exciting developments in our science education group, which has already developed the fastest-growing A level Chemistry syllabus in Britain. The HEFCE funds for our research laboratories will complete the modernisation programme for the entire department."
Notes to editors:
- The BBSRC has announced two new centres for structural biology: one in York and one in London. They will be centres of excellence to which researchers from elsewhere can bring particular problems to be solved. The leader of research into protein structure is Professor Rod Hubbard.
- The Salters Institute of Industrial Chemistry is the educational arm of the Salters Livery Company. Salters Science courses, developed at York, are used in schools all over the world. Over 40,000 students in the UK take the Salters GCSE course. Salters courses are also used in the US and have been translated into Spanish and Russian and will shortly be translated into Swedish.
- The laboratories refurbished with funds from HEFCE will be those of Professors Richard Taylor and Robin Perutz and their research colleagues. The former works on the synthesis of antibiotic and anti-cancer drugs, the latter focuses on inorganic chemistry, particularly in photochemical processes.
- For further information please contact Professor Bruce Gilbert on 01904 432501.