University of Exeter

Life Sciences Research

Bioinformatics Centre is a purpose built computer suite dedicated to research advances in the analysis of biological information and the training of a new generation of Bioinformatics scientists.  The Schools of Biology and computer sciences jointly run the EPSRC-sponsored MSc course in Bioinformatics. 

Biocatalysis Centre has been funded by the welcome Trust with a grant of £1.9 million together with top-up funding from the university to make a total of £2.5million.  The Centre will be investigating enzymes in four major areas.

• The production of very pure drugs for the pharmaceutical industry.
• Biotechnological applications for other industries, such as food, and waste disposal.
• The use of enzymes as bio-sensors.  Enzyme changes can indicate the onset of certain diseases.   Type 2 diabetes, for example, is associated with several specific changes in a particular enzyme.
• Enzymes which have been identified in Exeter that are involved in vitamin c synthesis by plants and in devastating fungal diseases such as Rice Blast.  The Centre will foster further work on their mode of action and biotechnological applications.

Centre for Genomics in Society study societal and ethical issues related to genomics from GM crops to human Cloning.  This builds on Exeter’s national ranking of unequalled first in Philosophy and Social Sciences and the Philosophy of Biology.

Environmental Microbiology Research Group has wide expertise in the survival and growth of micro-organisms in different natural environments such as water, soil and food, associated with industrial or agricultural processes and also medical and dental environments.  Common to all these situations is the deleterious effect of bacterial growth on surfaces (termed biofilms), a key research area.  The team also has a strong background in biodegradation of pollutants in the environment, which provides an additional strong basis for the collaborative work carried out for commercial organisations.

Molecular Genetics Laboratory will concentrate on macromolecular synthesis, energy transformations and structural biology in plants and clinical medicine. Areas of particular expertise include the integration of molecular genetic testing with clinical medicine, gene discovery, rapid throughout, large scale PCR, rapid mutation detection methods including SSCP and direct automatic sequencing.

The Peninsula Medical School is a US$64.4million investment in the UK’s first new medical school for almost 40 years and is collaboration between the universities of Exeter and Plymouth and 2 NHS Trusts.

University of Exeter Spin-out Companies

Biotechnology Southwest Limited

Provides expertise for the development and support of industry in the areas of molecular biology and biochemistry, and work is carried out in partnership with a number of businesses and research funding organisations.

Mobious Genomics

Rapid DNA sequencing service backed by a large DNA database to facilitate fast track development of new drugs and treatment modalities.  Technology based on molecular Resonance sequencing.

Affiniti Research Products Ltd

Biochemical supply. Merged with BIOMOL International Ltd in 2003.

Receptor Research

Started on a bench in the School of Biological Sciences.

BioElf

Joint venture between Exeter, Plymouth, Plymouth Marine Laboratories and NHS Trusts to exploit biotechnology.

Exeter Nanobacteria Ltd

Developing a service to detect, identify and characterise newly discovered bacteria that have a major disease-causing role.  A team in the Biological School has developed the difficult technology to culture these organisms and is now in a prime position to develop an internationally relevant business.

Exeter Antioxidant Therapeutics Ltd

A range of compounds identified and synthesised by a team in the School of Chemistry, University of Exeter have been shown to be novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of neuro-degenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s Disease.

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