Three research projects based at Glasgow have received major grants from the European Research Council (ERC) totaling more than €6 million (£5 million).

The awards were made through the ERC’s Advanced Grant competition, part of the EU’s Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7).

The recipients of the three projects are:

• Professor Andy Baker – €2.5m – for a study to understand the fundamental pathways controlled by micro ribonucleic acid (microRNA) in vascular pathology and refine microRNA therapeutics for potential application to improve patient care in the cardiovascular setting,
• Professor Jon Cooper – €2.2m – for a study into advanced microfluidics and diagnostics using acoustic holograms (biophononics) that could be used in new mobile medical diagnostic technologies,
• Professor Miles Padgett – €1.7m – for a study into the intricate shaping of light beams and their application to better imaging.

The grants were amongst 284 made in this sixth and last competition under the FP7 programme, with the next Advanced Grants call coming under the ‘excellence pillar’ of the new Framework Programme Horizon 2020.

A total of 2,400 applications were made for funding with a success rate of 12% - with Glasgow performing well amongst its UK peers in securing three awards. Since its launch in 2009, the University has won more than £48 million in funding from the FP7 programme.

Professor Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, said: “To have secured three major grants in this funding competition is outstanding and testament to the world-leading research being conducted here at Glasgow.

“It is great to see the European Union supporting cutting-edge research at universities and we will continue to bid for funding for the world-class work being undertaken by our academics.”

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, said: “The ERC funds researchers who are at the top of their game, and we need this talent in Europe. Their creativity and hard work creates knowledge that is valuable in itself, but that often also has a positive impact on our society and economy. That is why the ERC budget will receive a major funding boost under Horizon 2020.”

For more information contact Stuart Forsyth in the University of Glasgow Media Relations Office on 0141 330 4831 or email stuart.forsyth@glasgow.ac.uk

First published: 11 October 2013

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