HEFCE : Publications : 1998 : 98/21 - Refurbishing research laboratories initiative 1998

Ref 98/21

Refurbishing research laboratories initiative 1998

Awards by the HEFCE and DENI

To	Heads of HEFCE-funded Institutions Heads of DENI-funded Universities
Of interest to those responsible for	Estates and Finance
Reference	98/21
Publication Date	May 1998
Enquiries to	Jo Wheeler 0117 931 7450 E-mail j.wheeler@hefce.ac.uk

Executive summary

Purpose

1. This document announces the awards by the HEFCE and the Department of Education for Northern Ireland (DENI) for the 1998 refurbishing research laboratories initiative.

Key points

2. We received 178 bids requesting a total of £80.5 million from the HEFCE. Of these, 122 bids from 50 institutions were put forward to stage two of the initiative, all of which have been funded.

3. The HEFCE and DENI have awarded £55.42 million over three years for this first round. The initiative will run for three years.

Action required

4. No action is required.

Background

5. In HEFCE 97/23 we invited institutions to submit bids for refurbishing research laboratories.

6. The objectives of the initiative are:

a. To enable laboratory-based research of the highest quality to continue to be conducted in higher education institutions (HEIs).

b. To support the physical infrastructure in HEIs for basic research, conducted by institutions and researchers for their own purposes and/or sponsored by external funders and users. Where possible we encourage collaboration and sharing between departments and between institutions.

c. To help us take a strategic overview of the infrastructure needs of HEIs.

d. To promote value for money and encourage good estate management.

7. Institutions were expected to provide funds to match the contribution requested from the Council and DENI.

8. An advisory panel including representatives of the HEFCE Board, the CVCP and the Research Councils oversaw the assessment process. Its membership is at Annex A.

Assessment

9. The initiative was run in two stages.

a. We received 178 stage one bids by the end of December 1997. These were reviewed by the relevant Research Council (as nominated by the bidding institution) against the following criteria:

quality of research
robustness of future research strategy
contribution to the higher education research infrastructure, including plans for collaboration and sharing

Following the recommendation of the Research Councils, the advisory panel decided which bids should be put forward to stage two.

b. We asked for stage two bids by 31 March 1998. Where proposals requested more than £2 million we obtained valuable additional information through visits to the institutions concerned. Each visit was led by a member of the advisory panel, accompanied by estates professionals and representatives of relevant Research Councils. HEFCE estates and finance teams subsequently included this information when they reviewed bids against the following criteria:

the soundness of the institutional strategy for maintaining the estate
the soundness of the building and financial plans for the specific project; and how well the project fits with future institutional plans
the level of matched funds from the institution, and the overall value for money of the bid.

These assessments were passed to the advisory panel who made recommendations on funding to the HEFCE Board and DENI.

Awards

10. The Council originally set aside £35 million per annum for three years from 1998-99 (£105 million in total). Based on the recommendations of the advisory panel, the Board has agreed to fund 120 projects in 48 institutions starting in 1998-99, at a total cost of £55.2 million. In addition DENI is funding one project in each of its institutions. The awards are listed at Annex B. As recommended by the advisory panel, the Board has limited aggregate awards to institutions under the initiative to 10 per cent of total research income (as calculated from returns to the Higher Education Statistics Agency for 1996-97).

Conditions of grant

11. Detailed conditions of grant and methods of payment have been sent to heads of institutions and successful applicants. Copies of the conditions can be obtained from Jo Wheeler on 0117 931 7450.

Audit and evaluation

12. The Council will audit awards to check that institutions carry out the work described in the bid, and that they obtain value for money from the funds.

13. The HEFCE and DENI will carry out an evaluation to assess the impact of the initiative on UK science.

Further information

14. Any enquiries should be addressed to Jo Wheeler tel 0117 931 7450, e-mail j.wheeler@hefce.ac.uk.

Annex A

Membership of the advisory panel

Brian Fender CMG (Chair)	Chief Executive, HEFCE
Sir Ronald Oxburgh	Vice Chancellor, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
Professor George Radda	Chief Executive, Medical Research Council
Professor Sir Gareth Roberts	Vice Chancellor, University of Sheffield
Dr Keith Taylor	Chairman and Chief Executive, Esso UK plc
Professor Roger Williams	Vice Chancellor, University of Reading

Secretariat to the panel
Dr David Pilsbury	Head of Research Policy, HEFCE
Mr John Rushforth	Head of Estates, HEFCE
Miss Jo Wheeler	Policy Officer, HEFCE

Annex B

Refurbishing Research Laboratories Initiative 1998

Awards by the HEFCE and DENI

	£	£
Aston		230,000
A unified scale-up, processing, characterisation and modelling facility for bioengineering-related research	230,000
Brunel University		51,000
Conversion of outdated, large teaching laboratory into a fish physiology research unit	51,000
Cranfield University		1,408,000
Refurbishment of the School of Mechanical Engineering's gas turbine technology laboratories on the Cranfield campus	1,294,000
Refurbishment of molecular biology suite	114,000
Eastman Dental Institute		70,000
Refurbishment of cellular microbiology laboratories	70,000
Imperial College		3,892,975
Biomedical flow laboratory	37,500
Adhesives and adhesion laboratory	80,300
Roboticised parallel synthesis: approaches a to the discovery of novel bioactive molecules, catalysts and polymers	1,648,500
Refurbishment and development of environmental engineering and waste management laboratories	254,000
Advanced functional ceramics laboratory (AFCL)	84,500
Refurbishment and infrastructure for virology research	656,500
The role of the vascular response in fracture repair	41,675
South Kensington environmental analytical facility	365,500
Earth observation characterisation facility	61,500
Refurbishment of laboratories for equipment R&D for the International Large Hadron Collier	65,000
Refurbishment of laboratories 147/150. Department of Chemical Engineering	28,000
Molecular parasitology laboratories in the biochemistry department	570,000
Institute of Cancer Research		258,000
Refurbishment of laboratories McElwain and Haddow	258,000
King's College London		137,000
Refurbishment of laboratories in the Neurology Building (Institute of Psychiatry)	137,000
Keele University		222,500
A multi-user research environment for the synthesis and characterisation of materials	222,500
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine		292,900
Improving research infrastructure for the new Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases	292,900
Loughborough University		779,000
Remodelled powertrain laboratory	411,000
Provision of refurbished test cell facility	368,000
Nene College		26,600
Refurbishment of laboratories at the British School of Leather Technology	26,600
Nottingham Trent University		245,625
Facility upgrade for the fabrication of thin film optoelectronic devices	245,625
Open University		378,000
Animal facility refurbishment	378,000
Queen Mary and Westfield College		787,000
New centre for oral bio-informatics	787,000
Royal Holloway, University of London		827,040
Upgraded facilities for molecular biology, biochemistry and cell physiology	411,720
Centre for geochemistry and geochronology - specialist facilities for environmental and resources research	226,380
Condensed matter physics: specialist facilities for nanotechnology and low temperature physics	188,940
Southampton Institute		15,862
Refurbishing of towing tank	15,862
UMIST		1,443,000
Laboratory for proteome research	75,000
Laboratory refurbishment for research in the speciality chemicals and food sectors	304,000
Research in high temperature corrosion, erosion and wear	200,000
In situ studies of corrosion and protection	340,000
Refurbishment of electrical engineering research laboratories, B Floor	184,000
Refurbishment of atmospheric physics research labs	146,000
Refurbishment of plasma physics labs	35,000
Textiles laboratory refurbishment - main building	159,000
United Medical and Dental School		600,000
UMDS Dental School refurbishment	600,000
University College London		2,028,000
New NMR and cosmic dust laboratory	112,500
Refurbishment of the Denny Brown Research Laboratories for the Neuro-physiology and Clinical Neurology Research Group (Institute of Neurology)	448,000
Replacement of a non-biocontained biochemical engineering scale-up suite by a fully contained one	430,000
Refurbishment of 4th floor laboratories, Windeyer Building and associated works for Professor Robin Weiss, Molecular Pathology	505,000
Cold Room Complex for Ice and Climate Research	145,000
Refurbishment of existing research laboratories in Charles Bell House and the Bland Sutton Institute for the Institute of Urology and Nephrology	100,000
Refurbishment of 4th floor laboratories, Rockefeller Building and redundant squash courts, basement Rockefeller Building	287,500
University of Bath		1,475,000
Laboratory refurbishment for research in physics	375,000
Refurbishment of research laboratories for mathematical sciences	150,000
Refurbishment of research laboratories for chemical engineering	950,000
University of Birmingham		3,180,000
Laboratories for the Unit of Molecular Microbiology	587,000
Regulation of the immune response in health and disease	255,000
To create a centre for environmental research and training	420,000
Regeneration of research facilities for organic chemistry	1,750,000
Molecular analysis facility for multidisciplinary research	168,000
University of Bradford		178,000
Rationalisation and modernisation of research space for the Department of Biomedical Sciences in the Richmond Building	178,000
University of Bristol		5,706,000
Infrastructure for biomolecular science research in biochemistry at Bristol	425,000
Re-provision of synthetic chemistry laboratories	4,956,000
A "Cardiovascular Research Centre" (CRC) for the School of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol	225,000
Improvement of biological sciences laboratories	100,000
University of Cambridge		3,512,500
Research laboratories for biological chemistry	1,310,000
Plant sciences - refurbish laboratories for cellular/ molecular plant biology	275,000
Department of Oncology refurbishment, School of Clinical Medicine	174,000
Refurbishment of teaching lab to provide research space	650,000
Interdisciplinary materials processing laboratory	1,103,500
University of Durham		747,445
Chemistry research laboratories refurbishment at the University of Durham	458,600
Refurbishment of the Sir James Knott Laboratory for astronomical research	288,845
University of East Anglia		527,500
Laboratories for molecular biology research in ecology, microbiology and protein engineering	227,500
Biomolecular sciences in the UEA School of Chemical Sciences	225,000
Refurbishment of laboratory for computer representation and manipulation of sensory information	75,000
University of Essex		234,500
Conversion of redundant chemistry laboratories into molecular biology research suite	200,000
Centre for network research laboratory	34,500
University of Exeter		512,650
Enhanced laboratory facilities for synthetic biological and materials chemistry research at the University of Exeter.	512,650
University of Hull		323,000
Synthesis laboratories for the new millennium	323,000
University of Kent at Canterbury		491,000
Refurbishment of research laboratories and some related facilities within the Research School of Biosciences	491,000
University of Leeds		2,550,500
Refurbishment of the research laboratories in the School of Chemistry	2,550,500
University of Leicester		274,850
University of Leicester Cardiovascular Research Institute (CRI): laboratory refurbishment	124,850
Refurbishment of mechanics of materials research laboratories	150,000
University of Liverpool		4,993,000
Centre for biological and biomedical sciences research	4,211,000
Pathogenic organisms and vectors research (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine)	782,000
University of Manchester		3,695,000
Department of Chemistry second and third floor Research Laboratory Refurbishment	3,695,000
University of Newcastle upon Tyne		1,012,500
Refurbishment of research laboratories in Cassie and Drummond buildings	550,000
Refurbishment of research laboratories for the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science in the agriculture and adjoining King George VI buildings	462,500
University of Nottingham		1,399,450
Novel chemistry for new materials	319,600
Nanoscience programme laboratories	122,500
Transgenic animal facility	616,500
Institute of Cell Signalling	340,850
University of Oxford		1,115,625
Integrated facility for research into molecular cell biology	154,500
Refurbishment of the soil mechanics research laboratory	38,000
Upgrading of chemical processing and photo-lithographic area used in preparing aerodynamic instrumentation	40,000
Polymer, biomaterials and metallurgical processing laboratories	136,400
Laboratories for Epithelial Transport Group and Functional Generics Group (Department of Human Anatomy)	231,500
Refurbishment of animal laboratories for aptamer technology research	217,000
Refurbishment of neurosciences laboratory	16,000
Upgrading of research laboratories for Microbiology Unit	87,500
Refurbishment of XRF laboratory	26,500
Upgrading of Laboratories for the Plant Microbe Interaction Team	90,900
Refurbishment of mechanical and materials testing laboratories	22,500
Refurbishment of research laboratories for obstetrics and gynaecology	38,528
Laboratory refurbishment to create a category II tissue culture facility	16,297
University of Plymouth		100,000
Refurbishment of micromagnetics clean room	100,000
University of Portsmouth		142,500
Refurbishment of laboratories in the Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science	142,500
University of Reading		1,685,000
Nutrition, health and food biotechnology	135,000
New laboratories for synthetic chemistry (organic, bio-organic, inorganic and physical chemistry)	1,325,000
Renewal of labs at the University of Reading in cell signalling and developmental biology	225,000
University of Sheffield		1,450,156
Integrated programme in structural and functional biology	755,757
Establishment of the Sheffield centre for the study and exploitation of macromolecular thin films and surfaces	287,468
An advanced integrated testing and analysis laboratory	406,931
University of Southampton		2,990,000
Refurbishment of chemistry research laboratories	2,686,000
Transgenic Mouse Unit	124,000
Transport systems research laboratory	180,000
University of Sunderland		4,833
Restoration of Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory	4,833
University of Surrey		359,000
Refurbishment of laboratories for toxicology research	359,000
University of Sussex		399,100
The creation of purpose-built and integrated facilities for the Fullerene Science Centre, under Professor Sir Harold Kroto	159,000
A clean room for micro-machining/fabrication, optical fabrication, micro-engineering and optical materials research	240,100
University of Warwick		997,500
Refurbishment of synthetic methodology and measurement science research laboratories for chemistry	905,000
Refurbishment of Physics Department clean laboratory suite	92,500
University of York		1,422,500
Refurbishment of laboratories for bioinorganic, organometallic, and synthetic organic research groups	457,500
Refurbishment of biomedical science and ecology laboratories and associated animal facilities	965,000
Wye College		30,000
Refurbishment of molecular physiology and cell biology/ biophysics facilities	30,000

University of Ulster		166,750
Refurbishment of animal laboratories to provide transgenic facilities	166,750
The Queen's University of Belfast		40,000
The provision of a complete facility for millimetre wave design, measurement and circuit fabrication	40,000