Healthy £4m boost to help Capital stem cell centre

A NEW centre for stem cell research being built at Edinburgh University has received a £4 million funding boost that will allow it to attract more researchers.

The Centre for Regenerative Medicine, to be based at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary at Little France, will include the most advanced technologies now available in stem cell research, development and manufacture.

The university and the Scottish Funding Council have chipped in 2m each.

SFC chief executive Roger McClure said: "There is a critical mass of world-class stem cell researchers at the University of Edinburgh.

"To safeguard and enhance that expertise in Scotland is fundamental to reaping the benefits to the health and economy that potentially exist."

The scientist who cloned Dolly the sheep, Professor Ian Wilmut, will be in charge of the centre.