VACCINES for cancer, malaria and HIV will be the focus of research at five new potentially world-beating research centres in York.

More than £12.5 million is being ploughed into the centres at the University of York's Heslington campus, which will employ 40 people.

The centres will host research teams looking at infection and immunity, neuro-imaging, magnetic resonance and nuclear physics.

The centres and equipment are being partly funded by the Government's science research infrastructure fund and follow the announcement of ten new professorships to celebrate the university's 40th anniversary.

Work is due to start early next year on refurbished laboratories for researchers from the Hull York Medical School and the department of biology.

The unit will give leading immunologists access to world-class facilities for studying such areas as the activity of the brain.

Updated: 14:06 Friday, October 03, 2003