The University is to partner Oxford University in a new £3.7m Biomedical Imaging Doctoral Training Centre.

Postgraduate training in a wide range of engineering and scientific fields is important to the UK’s economy. The Oxford-Nottingham Biomedical Imaging (ONBI) CDT brings together two of the UK’s world-leading research universities in an innovative programme of teaching and research in biomedical imaging.

The centre, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC), is one of 22 new Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne MP.

It will provide 55 doctoral students with a uniquely broad exposure to all aspects of biomedical imaging, from cellular microscopy to clinical radiology, and from hardware development to image analysis. Research projects will intentionally include complementary elements from different ends of this spectrum, encouraging students to cross-fertilise ideas across imaging scales and disciplines.

Penny Gowland, Professor of Physics in the School of Physics and Astronomy at Nottingham, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded EPSRC and MRC funding to establish a Centre for Doctoral Training in Biomedical Imaging, which will be run jointly with Oxford University. We are very proud of our history of training biomedical imaging scientists at Nottingham, based on our world leading expertise in this area. The award of this CDT will allow us to forge new links between groups working on a range of different imaging techniques in Nottingham and Oxford and to provide a world class, multidisciplinary training programme that will produce the future leaders in this important area of research.”

EPSRC and other research councils have been able to fund these new centres following a £106 million investment announced in the Budget, and by negotiating with universities, industrial partners and the Scottish Funding Council, to maximise the number of centres and the students they will be supporting.

Mr Osborne said: “A forward-looking, modern industrial strategy is part of our long-term economic plan to deliver security, jobs and growth to all parts of the UK. Our investment in Centres for Doctoral training will inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers, ensuring Britain leads the world in high-tech research and manufacturing.”

This latest Government investment in a further 1,100 students through an additional 22 Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs), brings the total investment in CDTs to over £500m.

In addition, universities, industry and other charitable partners will be adding a further £70m to their already large contribution of £374m to support the training of tomorrow’s scientists and engineers.