11th December 2000

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Artist's impression of the £14.5m Centre for Molecular Biosciences to be built at the University of Ulster's Coleraine Campus


The University of Ulster today revealed details of an unprecedented £17.5m investment for research which will fund two exciting new world class facilities at its Coleraine and Magee College campuses.

The two projects which have received funding under the DFHETE’s SPUR (Support Programme for University research) are:

The Centre for Molecular Biosciences – to be built at the Coleraine campus and The Academy for Irish Cultural Heritages, to be headquartered at Magee College.

Professor Gerry McKenna, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ulster, expressed his delight that the largest SPUR award was given to the University’s pioneering Centre for Molecular Biosciences.

He said today: “This project is the only one of its kind in the United Kingdom or Ireland and will conduct investigations into critical health areas such as seeking a cure for diabetes, cancer; the relationship between diet and poor eyesight in the elderly; and research into methods of repairing damaged nerve cells in paralysis victims”.

Professor McKenna added: “The Centre for Molecular Biosciences will bring together at-the-edge work in a number of leading disciplines in a single site. Health science knowledge in leading fields will be united and targeted on some of the most chronic health problems being faced by our community. It is a development of great potential that is exciting us all”.

The Vice-Chancellor also said that the new Academy of Irish Cultural Heritages would be the first of its kind in the world.

He emphasised that the work of the Academy would look at more than people’s allegiances and traditions. “Our cultural heritages have a profound impact upon our economy and thus on our prosperity as a community”, he said.

“Our economy is affected by the way in which we are perceived and also how we perceive ourselves. This impacts upon such as tourism, urban and rural development and agriculture and traditional industries.

“Also, we will be looking at relationships with Britain and Ireland and Ulster and North America and we will also assess the role of the Irish Diaspora throughout the world. Such work has never been done before on this scale”.

Background information on the Centre for Molecular Biosciences and the Academy of Irish Cultural Heritages is available.

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk