25 September 2006

Brian Cox returns to see £20 million research centre

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UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE

Hollywood star Brian Cox - one of Scotland's most successful actors - spearheaded the fundraising campaign to raise millions of pounds for the Sir James Black Centre at the University of Dundee, a world-class global diseases research facility.

Now he is set to return to the University to see the finished centre, and in recognition of his efforts and help to the University, he will have a seminar room in the £20 million centre at the College of Life Sciences named after him.

Dundee-born Brian suffers from Type 2 diabetes, one of the diseases into which the University is carrying out world-class research.

"The enthusiastic support that Brian Cox lent to our campaign was a great help in enabling us to reach our goals and build the marvellous facility we now have in the Sir James Black Centre and it is a pleasure to welcome him back to Dundee and let him see the new building," said Professor Sir Philip Cohen, Research Dean in the College of Life Sciences.

"We are delighted to continue our association with Brian and it is entirely fitting that his efforts are recognised in this way."

Brian Cox is famous for theatrical roles on the West End and Broadway. He has also carved out a career in Hollywood, winning a series of high-profile roles such as Hannibal Lecter in the film Manhunter, Daphne's father on Frasier and villain General William Stryker in the blockbuster X-Men 2, the Scottish premier of which was staged in 2003 with all proceeds going to the fundraising appeal to complete the building of the Sir James Black Centre.

The centre (formerly known as the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research) is a state-of-the-art research facility which is home to 250 scientists and staff conducting research into diabetes, cancer and tropical diseases in the College of Life Sciences. It adjoins the Wellcome Trust Biocentre and provides a ‘citadel of science’ which is now a central feature of the city skyline.

The Sir James Black Centre was funded by commercial income generated by the College School of Life Sciences, University investment funding and the fundraising campaign led by Brian Cox.

The addition of the Sir James Black Centre to existing facilities means that Dundee has a larger medical research complex than the National Institute for Medical Research in London.

The completion of the Sir James Black Centre also further consolidates the University’s reputation as the best institution for a scientist to work in Europe (The Scientist Magazine, 2004 & 2005).

The University is home to the Dundee Diabetes Research Centre, a joint venture between the College of Life Sciences and the College of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, currently hosting over 25 research teams that have a shared interest in diabetes research, ranging from the study of single molecules to complex clinical studies. Professor Dario Alessi, diabetes researcher in the MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit at the College of Life Sciences, is Director of the Diabetes Research Centre.

Earlier this year the University launched the Diabetes Research Campaign, aiming to raise £3million over two years and support three major initiatives in diabetes research locally, including: