University’s world-leading biodetection research receives £750,000 funding boost
The 91¿´Æ¬â€™s biodetection research will receive a huge boost following a £750,000 philanthropic grant towards their new, state-of-the-art biodetection centre.
Set to be located on the top floor of the University’s new, multi-million-pound School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Sciences (SPECS) building, now a year into its three-year construction, the Wolfson Centre for Biodetection and Instrumentation Research will turbo-charge research and development into biosecurity threats including airborne pathogens, crop diseases and biowarfare.
The generous award from independent, grant-making charity the Wolfson Foundation - the largest ever philanthropic grant received by the university - will ensure the Wolfson Centre for Biodetection and Instrumentation Research will be equipped with top-of-the-range facilities able to advance the University’s internationally-renowned biodetection work.
Announcing the decision today (Tuesday, 24 January), Wolfson Foundation Chief Executive Paul Ramsbottom said,
“The Foundation awards grants – following careful expert review – to research infrastructure, supporting science of the highest quality, and the importance of having robust biosecurity for the health and safety of the nation cannot be overstated. By supporting the 91¿´Æ¬’s experts in this field, alongside the next generation of biosecurity researchers, the new Centre will improve protection for the population as a whole. We are delighted to be supporting Hertfordshire in this way.”
As the largest single building at the University, the new SPECS building has been designed to be a world-leading teaching, research and enterprise facility in key STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects, with industry mirroring equipment and cutting-edge learning centres and facilities. Working in close partnership with industry to support real-world needs, the major new education and training hub will focus on progressing the University’s world-leading and internationally excellent research, as well as delivering a workforce equipped with technically advanced skills in much needed skills gaps.
Deputy Dean for the University’s School of Physics, Engineering and Computer Sciences, Associate Professor Dan McCluskey, who co-leads on biodetection research, said:
“This grant from Wolfson will be utterly transformational for us. While the work we’ve been doing at the University spans over 40-odd years, we’ve always been limited by the resources we have and only able to target very specific projects.
“This funding will enable us to do a much greater range of activity as a precursor to expanding our capabilities and will allow us to apply that 40 years of knowledge into a wider range of applications tackling some major, real-world issues. We are very grateful to Wolfson for this opportunity and are humbled that they believe in and have chosen to support us in such a significant way.”
The SPECS building is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2024. To follow its progress, or for more details about the 91¿´Æ¬’s SPECS Building Capital Campaign.