Dundee researchers leave Cambridge trailing in their wake, reveals study

• Researchers at Dundee found metformin, a well-known drug

commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, could possibly prevent

cancer tumours.

Dundee University is the only Scottish institution in a top-ten list, compiled from a survey carried out by The Scientist magazine.

Scientists from around the world were questioned on their salary, quality of facilities, career prospects, the quality of the research carried out at their institution and employee benefits available, such as childcare provision.

The annual study has two categories, one for United States institutions and another for the rest of the world.

Dundee came third in the latter category, ranking above renowned institutes from around the world, while the University of Cambridge came in at seventh.

The Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, in Horsham, Sussex, topped the poll. It is the Swiss-based pharmaceutical company's world headquarters for respiratory and gastro-intestinal research.

Dundee University has been at the centre of ground-breaking research in life sciences in recent years.

African sleeping sickness and cancer are among the diseases in which Dundee has made great strides, towards finding prevention and cures.

Alastair Sim, director of Universities Scotland, which represents principals, said: "It is too easy to get complacent about the strength of our higher education sector.

"For a country of our size, it is remarkable that we should be amongst the very best destinations in the world for the researchers who will come up with the next generation of world-changing ideas. It is essential that we protect this national asset."

Dundee has more than 760 researchers and support staff, from 55 different countries with expertise in biomedical, biological and chemical sciences ranging from microbes to human disease. Last year, Dundee came sixth in the survey and has performed consistently highly, continually making it into the top-ten international institutions since the first survey in 2002.

Professor Mike Ferguson, dean of research, said he was delighted that Dundee had been recognised as one of the top institutions for postdoctoral researchers.

He said: "It is extremely gratifying that our postdocs enjoy working here. They are a hugely important component of our research teams.

"Not only do they design and perform cutting-edge experiments but they also help to train PhD and undergraduate students and get involved in public outreach work."

A Dundee team led by Prof Sir Philip Cohen, named as the world's most-cited biochemist, identified the biochemical pathway by which insulin controls the metabolism of glucose. This has led to the identification of new proteins that could see development of drugs to beat diabetes.

And Professor Paul Birch and colleagues at Dundee have been tackling potato blight by examining how the most significant potato pathogen, phytopthora infestans, causes disease.

Six areas where Dundee University has excelled

Researchers at Dundee found metformin, a well-known drug commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, could possibly prevent cancer tumours.

Professor Irwin McLean, a human geneticist and skin biologist, discovered mutations on the filaggrin gene cause eczema and other related skin diseases and allergies.

A team led by Professor Sir Philip Cohen (right, with actor Brian Cox) identified the pathway by which insulin controls glucose metabolism. This helped identify protein targets for new diabetes drugs.

Professor Paul Birch and colleagues are tackling potato blight, examining the potato pathogen Phytopthora infestans and have made discoveries to develop strategies to control crop losses.

Professor Geoff Gadd has shown fungi might be used to clean up depleted uranium left by military action. The fungi can "lock" the metal into a form that may be less likely contaminate organisms.

Dundee's Drug Discovery Unit has found treatments for the fatal disease Human African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, which infects tens of thousands of Africans each year.