UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has awarded £27.4m to the researchers at the University of Dundee to continue their work into developing new treatments for a range of conditions, including cancer and Parkinson’s disease.
UKRI’s Medical Research Council (MRC) will allocate the funding over the next five years to the Medical Research Council’s Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (MRC PPU), located in the School of Life Sciences at Dundee.
The cell biology research team, known for creating new therapies, has already secured £60m in private investment for their ongoing work.
The funding will help develop new treatments for various conditions, including motor neurone disease and Crohn’s, by advancing research into cellular signal transmission.
The 200-member team at the University of Dundee will use advanced technology to study how cellular signals are disrupted. The team will develop new treatments for diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Crohn’s, and skin cancer.
MRC PPU’s work has already led to the creation of over 40 approved drugs.
The new UKRI funding supports their research and highlights Scotland’s role in advancing life sciences and economic growth.
Science Minister Lord Vallance said: “The work at the University of Dundee, which we are announcing support for today, is proof of how deep expertise, effective links with industry, and the power of curiosity can deliver meaningful improvements to people’s lives, while also driving economic growth across the UK.
“This funding puts the unit on track to strive for still more health breakthroughs, that could help more patients live longer and healthier lives.”
New funding is being announced as the Science and Technology Secretary prepares to address higher education leaders at the Universities UK conference.
The Dundee team, in collaboration with companies like GlaxoSmithKline, developed a melanoma drug Dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and is advancing a Parkinson’s treatment in clinical trials.
The UK government supports universities in enhancing the economy and healthcare through research. MRC PPU leads the Division of Signal Transduction Therapy (DSTT), which collaborates with pharmaceutical companies, including Boehringer Ingelheim.
