Imperial College London - Research centre targets colds

The new Centre for Respiratory Infection Research at Imperial College London aims to tackle colds and flu. The research centre is funded by a £3.4 million award from the Wellcome Trust and will bring together more than 200 scientists to work on problems ranging from how common cold viruses cause disease and affect long-term health to how to make better vaccines to prevent lung infections and diagnose tuberculosis more accurately. Peter Openshaw, the director of the new centre, said: "Respiratory disease has never been as well funded as it deserves to be, considering the impact it has on health. Respiratory infections are at the root of many of the diseases that we treat every day. This new initiative is a great opportunity to get something done."