Tayside Health Board has today announced a major financial contribution of £500,000 to the University of Dundee Medical School's new Centre for Clinical Research at Ninewells. In addition, a further £200,000 has been allocated to the centre by Tayside Universties Hospital Trust.
Peter Bates, Chairman of NHS Tayside said: "We attach huge importance to the development of clinical research in Tayside, and especially to the fruitful collaboration between the University of Dundee and NHS Tayside.
We are extremely fortunate to have such a concentration of world-class life scientists, medical researchers and clinical experts at the forefront of many of the specialisms and developments that will underpin healthcare in the future.
The new Centre is a highly significant addition to the strengths of the Teaching Hospital and a visible expression of the partnership between ourselves and the University. It is also a major strategic development for Scotland, and we are delighted to support the project."
The new Centre will attract international clinical academics focussing their research on disease prevention, diagnosis and early therapy for cancer, cardiovascular and thoracic diseases, nutrition, diabetes, metabolic disease and mental health.
The research themes in the new Centre will reflect the strategic aims of the Scottish Executive, The Chief Scientist’s Office and the pharmaceutical industry, addressing vital disease and health issues.
Professor Brian Burchell, Dean of the Medical School said: "The creation of the Clinical Research Centre has come at a very important time. The latest issue of the British Medical Journal has stated that academic medicine is in crisis across the world and is actively promoting a campaign to promote and reinvent academic medicine. I believe that the CRC will make a positive contribution to the high standards of clinical teaching and research being undertaken at Ninewells Teaching Hospital and is proof positive of the excellent relationship between the NHS and the University. We are extremely pleased that NHS Tayside are making a major financial contribution as our key partners in the development of the clinical research centre. This is another exciting project where the University and NHS Tayside are working in concert to create better health care for the future in Tayside."
By Jenny Marra, Head of Press 01382 344910, out of hours: 07968298585, j.m.marra@dundee.ac.uk