This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Fife superlab opens in fight against superbugs
08/12/2004
A new £6 million research laboratory to assist in the fight against superbugs like MRSA was officially opened today.
The Scottish Structural Proteomics Facility (SSPF) is based at St Andrews University and is a collaboration with Dundee University, with additional scientists from Glasgow and Warwick universities.
Teams of scientists will work on computer-based drug design while others screen thousands of compounds as the starting point for drug discovery.
The dual approach is unique in the UK and is intended to lead to faster and more effective development of medicines for dangerous infectious diseases like MRSA.
Mr Wallace said :
"This is the most modern research facility in Britain for drug design work. Facilities like this enable cutting edge research and are critical to ensuring Scotland can both retain home grown talent and attract top scientists from overseas.
"Diseases caused by superbugs like MRSA present major challenges to scientists and health professionals and this work is clearly of vital important to us all.
"I'm delighted therefore to open this new research lab and pleased that Executive investment - through SHEFC - has driven the project forward.
"The Executive is committed to maintaining Scotland's universities' competitive edge and recently announced record investment in the higher education sector.
"This type of facility enhances the reputation and capabilities of our universities, so that they continue to make their important contribution to Scotland's economic growth."
The SSPF facility is jointly funded by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) with £1.2 million, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) with £4.2 million and an additional £600,000 from the two main universities.
Proteomics is the study and analysis of protein structure and function.
The mapping of several genomes, including the human one is enabling researchers to find out more about proteins and enzymes, which will allow them to design more effective medicines.