University of Glasgow to lead two prestigious new research alliances

The University of Glasgow is to host two of three new collaborative research alliances in Scotland, with a focus on two of the biggest challenges currently for world health: nutrition and food security, and lifelong brain health. The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) have launched the Alliances for Research Challenges (ARCs), marking the beginning of a new approach to collaborative research in Scotland. The first three ARCs to be established are for food, brain health and energy, with each project receiving up to £600,000 funding for four years from the SFC. The investment will enable researchers to create multi-disciplinary, cross-sector teams to strengthen and accelerate bids for major research grants, including funding from overseas. The Scottish Alliance for Food, led by Professor Emilie Combet, and the Scottish Brain Health ARC, led by Dr Terry Quinn, will be hosted by the University of Glasgow in collaboration with partners, including fellow higher education institutions and third sector organisations. The challenges each alliance will address include some of the biggest questions facing governments across the world, such as how to manage food supply chains and how to help people maintain good cognitive health in old age. Higher Education Minister, Jamie Hepburn, said: "ARCs will connect Scotland's research excellence to national challenges and will build on our unique collaborative ethos and world-class universities to prime the Scottish landscape to respond to challenge-focused research funding opportunities.