CIR campaign receives major donation

The £4m campaign to build a centre of excellence for research into diabetes and tropical disease - the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research - has received a significant boost from the Chief Executive Officer of Upstate Group Inc, Sheridan Snyder, who has pledged a donation of $150,000 to the new Centre.

Mr Snyder, a 2002 Honorary Graduate, has founded several successful biotech companies including Genzyme, which has more than 6,500 employees. The Dundee Biocentre is the world’s premier research centre for kinases, the most studied protein in drug development for a wide range of diseases including cancer and diabetes.

He said, "I am convinced that this critical expansion of the Biocentre will assure the development of Dundee as a premier biotech centre with many job opportunities. Under the direction of Sir Philip Cohen there is no better investment in disease research or the future of the Dundee region. I am confident others will understand my enthusiasm and commitment and participate in this effort."

Professor Sir Philip Cohen said, "I am thrilled that Sheridan has signified, by this incredibly generous donation, his trust and belief in the work that we are doing at the University. Diabetes is a very serious disease and is rapidly on the increase across the developed world.

In addition, research into tropical diseases is largely ignored by the pharmaceutical industry so it's vital that academic research institutions are able to develop the necessary research clusters to bridge that gap in order to bring new drug treatments to clinical trials."

Pamela Campbell, Scottish Marketing Manager for Tesco, presenting Sir Philip Cohen with a cheque for £2,648. This brings the total collected through donations from Tesco shoppers up to £15,889.