Centre spearheads superbugs fight

A new multimillion-pound research facility to lead the fight against superbugs is to open at a Scots university.

St Andrews University will host the unit where scientists will study hospital inquired infections such as the superbug MRSA and the clostridium difficile infection.

Researchers at the £5 million facility, part of the university's Biomedical Sciences Research Complex (BSRC), also hope to improve our understanding of diseases such as cancer and bird flu.

Funding for the project was awarded by the Wellcome Trust.

Director of the facility, Professor James Naismith, said: "Our aim is to improve human health, not just in Scotland, but across the world, by tackling these emerging pathogenic diseases.

"This contribution from the Wellcome Trust is the first step to realising this vision."

University principal Dr Brian Lang welcomed the funding announcement.

He said: "This university is committed to improving the quality of human life by fostering an interdisciplinary environment where cutting edge scientific discovery takes place."

A report published last week showed a dip in the number of clostridium difficile and MRSA cases.

Health Protection Scotland figures showed that in April-June this year, C diff cases fell by 7% on the previous quarter, from 1,861 to 1,732.

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