The University of Durham, UK, has launched an integrated biological chemistry centre to develop interdisciplinary research in biological chemistry and bioengineering.
The University of Durham, UK, has launched an integrated biological chemistry centre to develop interdisciplinary research in biological chemistry and bioengineering.
The ?4.4 million, 1400m2 centre contains a suite of bespoke science labs, with a category two sterile handling and cell culture facility, temperature-controlled rooms, dedicated chromatography and microscopy/spectroscopy suites and large laboratories for synthetic chemistry.
Projects already in progress include bio-imaging, redox biochemistry, biocatalysis and protein engineering. Chemistry professor David Parker says: ’The structure, stability and function of bioactive systems can only be understood once there is an appreciation at the molecular level of the chemical and biochemical processes involved. Such work is primarily the responsibility or the chemist working in harmony with life, clinical, engineering and materials scientists.’
The Centre for Bioactive Chemistry will house four chemistry research groups and teams from the university’s biology and engineering departments. Its set-up was supported by BioNE2t, CELS ltd, the European Regional Development Fund, Durham County Partnership and One North East STBE programme and Sigma-Aldrich.
Fiona Salvage
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