A PIONEERING research centre at the University of York has been awarded a further £1 million by the WellcomeTrust.

The Centre for Chronic Diseases and Disorders (C2D2) was established in 2011 as an institution-wide 'virtual centre' for coordinating, promoting, supporting and maximising interdisciplinary research.

The research has covered a wide range of health problems, including neurological and mental health disorders, chronic infections, cancers and chronic wounds, said a university spokesman.

"These areas have been approached from a wide spectrum of disciplinary angles - from molecular biology and biochemistry to history and sociology - and using a range of the latest technologies, including magnetic resonance imaging, genomic sequencing, advanced computer simulations and low temperature plasmas."

He said that over the next two years, C2D2 planned to initiate a number of new projects to support people in their early careers to establish their research.

"The centre will launch an innovative project in partnership with local York schools to generate and then pilot new materials that will help to educate children about health, disease and disability," he said.

"In 2015, films commissioned by C2D2 will be shown at York City Screen and the public will again be able to see more of the centre’s work at the York Festival of Ideas and the YorNight, European Researcher’s Night sponsored by the EU."

York is one of 25 universities to receive two-year awards under the Institutional Strategic Support Fund of the trust, a global charitable foundation dedicated to achieving extraordinary improvements in human and animal health.

The scheme aims to enhance the generation of new knowledge, to promote innovation, collaboration and knowledge exchange, and to accelerate the application of research to achieve improved health outcomes.

Professor Deborah Smith, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research at York, said: “The success of the Wellcome Trust C2D2 Centre in promoting new cross-disciplinary research across the University has been impressive, as has the level of public engagement in the city and the region.

"Broad knowledge of the causes and impact of chronic diseases and disorders is increasing locally, while progress is accelerating in the development of innovative interventions for some of these conditions.”