Brain scientists put their heads together to create Sussex Neuroscience
A major new initiative will establish the University of Sussex as a centre of excellence in neuroscience.
Sussex Neuroscience will bring together academics already working in this field from the University’s schools of Engineering and Informatics, Life Sciences and Psychology, as well as relevant researchers in Brighton and Sussex Medical School.
The plans include a £1.2m refurbishment of the CRPC building to develop a Cell and Molecular Neuroscience Centre and create a base for researchers from Life Sciences and Psychology. The work is expected to begin in the summer.
This initiative will be led by the newly appointed Director of Sussex Neuroscience, Dr Leon Lagnado, who is joining the University from the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge. Dr Lagnado has built an international reputation for his research in sensory neuroscience.
Professor Laurence Pearl, Head of the School of Life Sciences, says: “Sussex already has substantial research activity in all aspects of neuroscience – last year open research awards to the founding members of Sussex Neuroscience amounted to £22.6m.
“The aim is to bring together this diverse and excellent portfolio of funded activities into a coherent multidisciplinary group that will make the vitality and quality of neuroscience research at Sussex really visible to the wider academic, clinical and industrial research communities.
“The internationally outstanding research programmes of Sussex Neuroscience will further our understanding of some of the most challenging and fascinating aspects of brain function and malfunction.”
The range of research will encompass three broad themes: ageing and dementia, memory and addictions, and perception and consciousness. These themes will be informed by a strong focus on the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms and a commitment to translating basic insights into new diagnostics and treatments for neurological diseases.
Professor Pete Clifton, Head of the School of Psychology, says: “Dr Lagnado will play a pivotal role in bringing together the diverse strands of Sussex Neuroscience, which range from molecular to clinical, cognitive and computational approaches.”
A new four-year PhD programme in neuroscience will also be introduced in October 2013, and discussions around new multidisciplinary undergraduate degrees in neurosciences are in progress.