Northwest Science Fund
The Northwest is committed to developing and nurturing an
internationally competitive knowledge base. The Northwest Science
Fund is essential in driving forward the region's science and
innovation agenda. It specifically targets support at the area
between 'blue skies' research and company R&D, where it is
often difficult to attract traditional sources of funding.
The NWSF will not only play a pivotal role in ensuring the
region remains a global leader in scientific innovation, but will
also draw on the expertise of our world-class universities to help
create scientific developments that will enthuse and educate the
next generation of scientists. Six projects have been successful in
receiving awards through this fun including:
Centre for Zoonosis Research
£1.68 million was awarded to the University of Liverpool to
establish the world’s first centre to undertake zoonosis research -
infections transmissible between animals and humans - recent
examples of which include BSE/vCJD and Bird Flu (Avian
Influenza).
UK Centre for Tissue Regeneration
£1.45 million has been awarded to the University of Manchester to
help develop a world-class UK Centre for Tissue Regeneration
(UKCTR). The centre, which is led by the University of Manchester
in collaboration with the University of Liverpool, the NHS and five
industrial partners including AstraZeneca, will make a major
contribution to UK research into tissue regeneration.
Northwest Embryonic Stem Cell Centre
£1.45
million was awarded to Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s
Hospitals NHS Trust in partnership with the University of
Manchester to help place the Northwest at the cutting edge of
embryonic stem cell research. The centre will also draw on the
expertise of the University of Liverpool and the University of
Manchester’s Paterson Institute for Cancer Research to develop a
state-of-the-art facility that will produce embryonic cells of high
enough quality for human transplantation – one of only a handful of
laboratories in the UK able to do so.
Northwest Composites Centre
£2.1 million has been awarded to the University of Manchester to
help establish a regional centre of excellence in composite
materials, now established as the lightweight material of choice
for many high-technology structural applications. The new Northwest
Composites Centre, which will link into a national network of
similar centres, is a collaboration between the Universities of
Manchester, Liverpool, Lancaster and Bolton. The universities will
work closely with the Northwest Aerospace Alliance to ensure
regional relevance and benefit.
North West Laser Engineering
Consortium
£2.5 million was awarded to the
Universities of Liverpool and Manchester to establish the North
West Laser Engineering Consortium (NWLEC). It will bring together
expertise from both universities, to research and develop laser
capabilities in the region. The use of lasers in manufacturing is
currently under exploited nationally and is required urgently by UK
industry if it is to remain competitive.
4GLS, Cheshire
£2.9 million has been awarded to CCLRC Daresbury Laboratory, the
Photon Science Institute of the University of Manchester and the
University of Liverpool to help build a prototype to prove the
scientific value of the Fourth Generation Light Source (4GLS)
concept. 4GLS will be a state-of-the-art suite of accelerator-based
light sources, used for cutting edge scientific research. If the
Daresbury team is successful it will place them in pole position to
secure the Government investment needed to enable the full 4GLS
facility to be built at Daresbury Laboratory.