£60m boost for research into diseases

ALMOST £60 million is set to be invested in research to help people suffering from illnesses such as cancer and rare inherited disorders

The cash, from the Medical Research Council (MRC), will help scientists gain fresh insights into conditions such as schizophrenia, cystic fibrosis and genetic eye disorders.

The grants will be given to the MRC Human Genetics Unit and the MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine (IGMM) at Edinburgh University. It is hoped they will also help doctors develop and deliver new tests and therapies for patients. The five-year funding consolidates IGMM’s position as a world leader in genetics research.

Professor Nick Hastie said: “The challenge we face is to work out how genes work together to build a human. We also want to find out how subtle DNA differences help shape diversity and influence susceptibility to a range of diseases.”