By Debbie Kerr

THE SCOTTISH Government has pledged £10 million to the development of a Dundee-based life sciences centre.

Finance Secretary John Swinney, who delivered the budget plans in a statement to the Scottish Parliament yesterday, has allocated a total of £10 million over three years to “enhance life sciences in Scotland.”

The creation of a Scottish Institute for Life Sciences has received cross party support since it was first announced by former first minister Jack McConnell during a visit to the Wellcome Trust Biocentre at Dundee University earlier this year.

Funding for the centre will be allocated in three instalments—£2 million for 2008-09, £3 million for 2009-10 and £5 million for 2010-11.

Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick welcomed yesterday’s announcement.

He said, “The Scottish Institute for Life Sciences, or SCILS, will be a new centre of excellence, equipped and managed to the highest international standards.

“SCILS will attract outstanding scientists to Scotland and train the most promising young researchers to conduct world-leading biomedical research and translate these outputs into new medicines and commercial opportunities.

“I am pleased that proposals to site the Scottish Institute for Life Sciences in Dundee has cross-party support and I’m delighted the cabinet secretaries for finance and sustainable growth and for education & lifelong learning have worked hard to make sure this was able to be included in this first SNP budget.”

He added that the state-of-the-art centre would greatly benefit the city of Dundee and would confirm the city’s place as a leader in the life sciences industry.

“This is tremendous news for Dundee and will be welcomed across our growing life sciences sector across Scotland.

“Recent independent surveys have confirmed the pre-eminence of the University of Dundee in the field of life sciences.

“Essential Science Indicators, published by The Institute for Scientific Information Philadelphia, ranked (it) top in the UK in biology and biochemistry and second top in Europe.

“In molecular biology and genetics, Dundee was placed second in the UK and fourth in Europe and in pharmacology and toxicology, Dundee was not only top ranked in the UK but also across Europe.

He continued, “But I want to be clear that the Scottish Institute for Life Sciences is good news for the whole life sciences community in Scotland which together—as part of what is increasingly being known internationally as the University of Scotland—are making sure our nation’s contribution to life sciences is hitting well above our weight.

“The Government’s investment in SCILS will ensure that continues into the future.”

A spokesman for Dundee University said, “We welcome the announcement that £10 million has been set aside to support the development of an institute to enhance life sciences in Dundee.

“We are in discussion with the Scottish Government about how best to take this forward.”