University of Leicester Launches Five Research Institutes to Address Global Challenges

The University of Leicester has announced the launch of its five new research institutes that will deal with today’s most critical challenges that the world is facing, including the climate crisis.

Other issues that these new institutes will tackle are current and new health threats, the future-proofing the cultural sector, and harness the potential of space, Erudera.com reports.

The announcement was made during an event attended by University of Leicester senior leaders, eminent members of the research community, and external partners of the five new institutes. Attendees had the chance to hear from each institute's directors and join a panel discussion.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the university Philip Baker said the intention is to grow and develop these research institutes.

“We will build on our global impact for research, as recognised by the Research Excellence Framework (REF) earlier this year. This is due in no small part to the collaborations we have already established with leading partners, such as the NHS and the National Centre for Earth Observation,” Baker said.

The five new institutes include:

• Institute for Structural and Chemical Biology – aiming to explore biological systems through chemistry, answer challenging questions in the field of biology and accelerate drug discovery.
• Institute for Precision Health – expected to offer more effective and kinder treatments, earlier and more accurate diagnoses, and harness creativity and collective expertise of top world’s clinical research teams.
• Institute for Digital Culture – aims to build the digital capacity of the culture sector.
• Institute for Environmental Futures – is expected to establish paths to sustainable and environmental futures considering the climate crisis challenges.
• Institute for Space – the institute is a collaboration with Space Park Leicester, aiming to build a coalition of space between research groups and centers at the University of Leicester.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) has recently received £26 million over the next five years. In a statement, the university said that research teams will work together to develop “groundbreaking treatments, diagnostics, prevention and care for people who have a wide range of diseases.”

So far, research in cardiovascular sciences, diabetes, cancer, and COVID-19 has been conducted at BRC.

The University of Leicester was established in 1921, admitting the first students. In 1927, the school became University College, Leicester, and 30 years later, it was granted the Royal Charter, meaning the university would start awarding its own degrees. Today it is one of the top universities in the United Kingdom.

Photo from University of Leicester's official Twitter account.