Virtual Centre to Coordinate Disease Research

The University of York’s research excellence and vision has been rewarded by a new £500,000 grant from Wellcome Trust’s Institutional Strategic Support Fund, which together with matching funds from the University will allow the creation of a new ‘virtual centre’ to coordinate research into chronic diseases and disorders. The University already conducts world-leading research that tackles important public health challenges. These range from the development of new vaccines and drugs against infectious diseases through to the development of health care solutions for diabetes, deafness and mental health disorders, work on social policy and welfare, and research in the medical humanities.

The University’s new Centre for Chronic Diseases and Disorders will help to coordinate these research activities across the University. It will provide funds to develop new lines of interdisciplinary research, to promote the translation of research into the clinic, to support exceptional young scientists in their careers, and to help develop new infrastructure. A particular focus will be to engage more scientists in clinical research, through the use of existing and new clinical trials cohorts.

“Bringing together researchers from different disciplines often fuels innovation,” says the University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Professor John Local. “This exciting new centre will further our vision to make a real
impact on important areas of bio-medical and health research. We are determined to make a significant and tangible
contribution to a global reduction in the burden imposed by chronic diseases and disorders.”

“The success of the Centre will be measured by how well it  enables researchers from across these exciting and richly diverse areas of research to share and extend their expertise for maximum benefit,” says Professor Paul Kaye, Deputy Dean (Research) for the Hull York Medical School and acting director of the Centre.

The University will appoint a new Director to lead the centre in the coming months, as well as new staff with the specialised mathematical and computing skills to increase the University’s capacity to undertake research on the complex interactions between genetics, environment and health.