 University
IPI 'Topping Out'
Key representatives from the
region were welcomed to the University's Institute
of Pharmaceutical Innovation (IPI) recently to celebrate its 'Topping
Out'.
Building work began last September
on the multi-million pound research unit, which will be a focal point
for international research excellence in drug design and medicines development.
 Project
Manager and Associate Dean of Research in the School of Life Sciences,
Professor Brian Clark, said: "It's exciting to see the new Institute taking
shape. It will provide the best possible environment for novel research
as well as generating significant new high-quality, high-value employment
opportunities for the region.
Picture: The Institute
of Pharmaceutical Innovation's (IPI) 'Topping
Out' - Left to right: Board Director at Yorkshire Forward, John Ashcroft;
Chair of University Council, Tommy Ashdown; Vice-Chancellor of the University,
Professor Chris Taylor; and HEFCE Regional Team Member (Yorkshire and
Humberside) Roger Lewis
"The IPI will help to enhance
our links with industry as we will work closely with local companies and
large multinationals in the pharmaceutical and related industries in exploiting
research excellence."
A total £6m in funding has
been awarded for the six-floored building, including £1.13m from project
allocation funds (HEFCE), £2m from Yorkshire Forward (Regional Development
Agency) Funding, £2.63m from the Science Research Investment Fund (SRIF)
and £280,000 from other funds.
The new unit, situated on
the corner of Tumbling Hill Street and Richmond Road, will house some
40 researchers as well as high-quality computing equipment to be used
for computer modelling and mathematical manipulation.
The new sophisticated computer
methods, based on artificial intelligence, will examine data and predict
which drugs and their formulations are most likely to succeed, leading
to the speedier design of drugs, their testing, and formulating them into
suitable medicinal forms for the marketplace.
Apart from the computer-based
focus of the IPI, the building will also house an Analytical Centre which
will provide high-quality facilities to sustain biochemical, pharmaceutical
and chemical research at the University and further provide the potential
to support local and national industry.
Building work on the IPI is
expected to be completed in August 2003.
6 May
2003
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