University to open science lab with £2.5m fund

The university wants to train "workplace-ready" scientists for the NHS

The University of Essex (UoE) is set to open a new £2.5m laboratory as part of a large government investment into higher education.

The facility at the Colchester campus will aim to train "workplace-ready scientists" for the NHS and the life-sciences sector, a UoE spokesperson said.

Earlier this week, the Office for Students announced it was allocating £88.5m for universities and colleges across England.

Prof Terry McGenity, head of the school of life sciences at UoE, said "this incredible new facility will place us at the forefront of training students".

The university says it will be called the BioSTAR-Lab, including a microbiology and cancer diagnostics laboratory.

"The BioSTAR-Lab will help fill gaps in diagnosing disease, especially in NHS priority areas like blood science, infection science, cellular science and genomics," he said.

Prof Silke Paulmann, executive dean for science and health, described it as an "exciting new chapter" for Essex.

"The BioSTAR-Lab will empower our students and staff to push the boundaries of discovery and develop the skills our society urgently needs," she said.

The government published a life sciences sector plan in July, setting out a "10-year mission" to deliver long-term economic growth and a stronger "prevention-focused NHS".

Meanwhile, an NHS England report published in 2023 said there was a need to increase the number of pharmacists nationally by up to 55%.

Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said: "This cash boost from government ensures young people are using the most up-to-date tech and facilities, helping them to secure a future in the well-paying, highly-skilled jobs."