Dundee University has won a record level of research funding for the past year.
Income totalled around £140 million, significantly outstripped the previous year’s total of £114 million.
Vice-Principal for Research Professor John Connell said, “These record figures we have set in each of the past two years are testament to our research strength and reflect the hard work our researchers have put in to win funding across the University.
“The level of research income demonstrates the vital role the University plays in helping foster the nation’s economy and will lead to greater understanding across the disciplines from science to culture.
“We have an overarching mission to transform lives, locally and globally, and the pioneering research we carry out, and how it is applied, is a major factor in helping us achieve that goal.”
The figures for 2012/13 include a particularly strong performance in funding for Life Sciences, boosted by major awards including £24million from the Medical Research Council to support the MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit.
The University is central to a biosciences hub in Tayside that accounts for around 16 per cent of the local economy.
The launch of the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) European Lead Factory earlier this year will also see at least £16.5 million invested in Scotland with the University as a central partner.
First Minister Alex Salmond said the initiative, “reinforces Scotland’s international reputation as a nation at the forefront of scientific breakthroughs and promotes the life sciences sector as central to continued economic growth in Scotland.”
Research council funding as a whole significantly swelled over the year, while there were also strong performances in EU and Scottish Government funding.
“It is particularly encouraging that we have managed to attract such high levels of income in a period when the funding environment has been generally regarded as challenging, set against the backdrop of the global economic picture,” said Professor Connell.
“It is clear that it is the very best research which has the strongest chances of attracting support from Government, charities and industry. We will continue to strive to secure a significant share of that for Dundee.”