£5m research centre helps hunt for cures

SCIENTISTS in Yorkshire are set to play a growing part in world-class work to develop treatments against chronic diseases that devastate millions of lives around the world with the opening today of a new 5m research centre.

The new home for the Centre for Immunology and Infection at York University will help experts better understand a range of chronic ailments and develop techniques for their prevention and cure.

Chronic illnesses ranging from conditions in Western societies including Crohn’s disease and diabetes to neglected diseases including HIV, leishmaniasis and sleeping sickness in the world’s poorest regions affect millions worldwide.

University vice-chancellor Prof Brian Cantor said: “York is already in the vanguard of research into immunology and infectious diseases and these new facilities will further enhance our world-class research in this area.”

Scientists in York have already established an international reputation in the fields of immunology, pathogen biology and experimental medicine.

The new building includes an additional three floors of laboratories, increased facilities for handling high-risk pathogens and a specialist clinical suite for volunteer studies and clinical trials.