20 December 2006

CPE wins £4.3m Sheffield centre for human health research

The University of Sheffield has been selected for a prestigious Science and Innovation Award by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The funding award, valued at almost £4.3m, will be used for a unique centre of excellence that will bring together leading chemical engineers and biologists, to work on pioneering human health research.

The new research centre, Chemical Engineering Life Science Interface (ChELSI), will be based in the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering at the University, and will enable chemical engineers to collaborate with biologists at what is termed the ‘Life Science Interface’. In the United States and countries such as Singapore and Korea, collaborations in post-genomic era sciences are extensive, but in the UK collaborations are a lot less frequent. The aim of the new centre is to ensure such partnerships are encouraged and nurtured in a purpose built facility.

The vision for ChELSI is that it will focus on human health problems, with initial projects in areas such as stem cells, kidney diseases and reproductive biology. The aim is to use the skills of chemical engineers and apply them to biological problems.

It is intended that ChELSI will develop world leading chemical engineering - driven life science research, as well as embed knowledge, practices and expertise in the UK chemical engineering community. This will be achieved through regular conferences, workshops, seminars and courses and by creating an environment where information and ideas can be exchanged, to encourage relationships between chemical engineers and biologists from around the UK and beyond.

The EPSRC funding will mean that specialist facilities that chemical engineers cannot currently access in the UK, will be developed at the University and eight new staff, with expertise in the Life Science Interface will be employed to support existing staff and bring in new ideas and experience. The University will also invest its own funds in ChELSI by providing up to 1000m2 of new laboratories, offices and “ideas space”, as well as funding some of the support staff needed for the centre.

Another important objective for ChELSI will be to forge links with industry, other universities and the NHS, to encourage partnerships and share knowledge and expertise. The centre will also be pro-active in enhancing the public’s understanding of science through a range of different events.

Professor Mike Hounslow, Head of the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Sheffield, who will be working at ChELSI, said: “We are delighted that EPSRC has awarded us with this prestigious Science and Innovation Award. It confirms the commitment and investment the University has already given research at the Life Science Interface and the firm foundations that have already been laid. The new funding will allow us not only to maintain and expand our existing research, but to accelerate new areas and welcome new ideas and expertise from the rest of the UK science and engineering community.”

Professor Geof Tomlinson, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Sheffield, said: “We are honoured that the EPSRC has chosen Sheffield to take the lead in such an important area of research. The new centre will be an asset to the University, the city and the UK, offering outstanding facilities, a huge pool of expertise and a purpose built facility where chemical engineers and biologists can come together to exchange ideas and expertise.”

With thanks to the University of Sheffield Media Centre and Communications