Profile * University of Dundee Medical School

As the University of Dundee Medical School prepares for its 40th anniversary, the school is building on its already excellent reputation with a new Head of College, new members of staff and new research.

Thousands of doctors have passed through the doors, going on to become world leaders in surgery, oncology, anaesthesiology and diabetes.

Names that are known throughout the world - Prof Sir Alfred Cushieri who developed keyhole surgery, Prof Andrew Morris who works on diabetes, Prof Sir David Lane who discovered a gene which helped fast forward the understanding of cancer - all trained or worked at the School of Medicine, adding to its reputation as one of the best research and treatment centres in the world. Wherever you go in the world of Medicine, Dundee is known and respected.

Housed at Ninewells Hospital, the miles and miles of white corridors, plastered with notices announcing everything from press coverage for a new discovery to flats to rent, hide a world class group of researchers. Currently they are focussing on programmes in cancer, diabetes, human genetics and skin biology, cardiovascular disease and neurosciences as well as conducting research into ageing and early human development. The emphasis is on translational research - turning the research into actual medicines - which helps cement a strong relationship between the school of medicine and the University's School of Life Sciences where scientists are also working in the fields of cancer, diabetes and other diseases. This joined up thinking helps towards greater understanding of the diseases and the development of new drugs. These then lead to further need for clinical and epidemiological expertise and clinical trials, which can also be conducted at Dundee.

One of Dundee's pioneering concepts is the unique health number that everyone is now given by the NHS when they are born. This has led to the establishment of the Health Informatics Centre with a reputation for leading the transformation of information into knowledge that improves health, while preserving complete patient confidentiality.

Dundee has recently developed the Clinical Research Centre - a research hotel with a first class, state-of-the-art imaging facility due to open later this year. The imaging facility will include an MRI scanner which uses magnetism to build up a picture of the inside of the body, instead of an xray. It therefore uses no xray radiation, shows up soft tissue very clearly and a single scan can produce images from all angles of the body. A specialised unit supporting researchers of all clinical specialities, the CRC is a joint NHS/University development allowing people to participate in research studies in a dedicated facility with a key role in translational medicine.

Discovering the drugs of tomorrow is a complicated, high risk and lengthy process. From the initial concept for a biological drug target through to creating a drug that is considered safe to begin human testing, takes as much as 6 years, involves up to 100 dedicated scientists from a multitude of disciplines and costs approximately £13m per drug. While each drug discovery organization has its own individual processes, the overall concept of drug discovery is based around the same principles. Taking a radical approach to developing new tests, drugs and treatments by focusing on biomarkers, is the Translational Medical Research Collaboration - a £50m initiative in partnership with US pharmaceuticals giant Wyeth, Scottish Enterprise, NHS Scotland and three other universities. Biomarkers are one of the scientific tools needed to make the development of new drugs more effective and efficient. The TMRC has its core laboratory at Dundee and the first round of 28 research projects funded through this initiative have already been identified, with £8 million released to support work throughout Scotland.

An effective conduit for developing and commercialising innovative biomedical devices is provided through The Institute for Medical Science and Technology (IMSaT), a joint initiative with the University of St Andrews. IMSaT brings together engineers, scientists and mathematicians with clinicians and corporates to research and exploit developments at the interface between the biomedical and physical sciences.

The University of Dundee Medical School has consistently ranked best in the UK at preparing medics for their profession. Two successive surveys in 2003 (Goldacre) and 2006 (Cave) placed Dundee first out of 23 UK medical schools when young professionals were asked the question: "How well did medical school prepare you for the jobs you have undertaken so far?"

The main areas of research

Cancer - the interplay of genes and environment in individuals' responses to disease, drugs and treatment is the focus of research at the Biomedical Research Centre which has strong links with the pharmaceutical industry. P53, "the guardian of the genome", discovered by Professor Sir David Lane who leads large and successful teams in Dundee and Singapore, is a major focus of cancer research. Their work has identified potential therapeutic targets and treatments and is an excellent example of the strength of the university's interdisciplinary approach.

Diabetes is a major focus with 27 research teams and more than 100 researchers currently working at every level from the cell through drug discovery, patient care and informatics. Dundee's biochemists have made major contributions to the understanding of biochemical pathways. Meanwhile, at delivery level, Dundee takes a leading role. The highly successful Diabetes Audit and Research in Tayside programme, which networks all professionals delivering diabetes care and support, has been rolled out throughout Scotland and Dundee is now the hub of the Scottish Diabetes Research Network co-ordinating nationwide studies of people with diabetes.

Human genetics and skin biology has raised its profile at Dundee over recent years with a major scientific breakthrough by Professor Irwin McLean linking the genetic basis of eczema and asthma and the relocation of leading researcher Professor Irene Leigh and her team, attracted from London to Dundee where she now heads the College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing. The return of leading Life Sciences skin researcher Professor Birgit Lane, after a sabbatical in Singapore, will further extend activity in this fast developing area.

Cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment are the major aims of the internationally recognized Institute of Cardiovascular Research. With more than 100 researchers in the team they are in the midst of a successful £5m fundraising campaign. The scientific research programme, peer review funded to over £20m in the past 5 years, has links across the University - to inflammation in Life Sciences, development of cell machines with Engineering, and heated garments with the School of Art and Engineering. Interaction with the Pharmaceutical Industry has produced innovative life saving drug therapy, developed from bench to bed-side. The CV team are now launching the TASCFORCE Trial,a study to detect hidden heart disease in 10,000 volunteers across Taysideand Fife using a £2m scanner donated by the Souter Charitable Trust through Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland.