The launch of three major new research institutes has been announced today, putting Cardiff University at the forefront of international research.
The university is investing almost £10 million into the centres, which will tackle the important issues of cancer, sustainability and mental illness.
Each of the institutes will combine different academic disciplines and build on existing strengths to offer a distinctive approach.
The Sustainable Places Research Institute will focus on developing sustainable solutions for individual cities and their surrounding regions. The Cardiff city region and the Seven Estuary will be among the first areas for study, combining expertise in buildings, energy systems, communities, the natural environment, infrastructure, health and policy-making.
The Neurosciences and Mental Health Research Institute will build on breakthroughs by Cardiff-based experts, including identifying the genetic origins of diseases such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and Alzheimer’s.
The third institute will focus on research into cancer stem cells.
Plans for a new research campus at Maindy Park, in Cardiff, last week received outline planning permission. The first building on the campus, the £30 million Gateway Building, is expected to open in 2012 and will provide a new home for two of the institutes.
For more information, visit the Cardiff University website.