NHS Tayside today gave the go-ahead for the university to develop two vacant wards at PRI. Board members were told the university would bear all the financial risk, and the development would be at no cost to the NHS.

Earlier, the internationally renowned respiratory specialist who will lead the development outlined his ambitious plan.

Professor Brian Lipworth, who spent many years developing asthma and allergy facilities at Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital, intends to replicate those facilities at PRI and introduce leading-edge technology that will give a better understanding of what is happening in patients’ lungs.

Professor Lipworth said he had also managed to acquire portable technology that would allow patients to be monitored in GPs’ surgeries and other community locations. That technology would undergo testing as part of the work of the unit to be developed at PRI.

He said monitoring asthmatics was “a bit like watching a volcano” — you knew things were going on, but didn’t know exactly what until there was an eruption.

In a sense the new equipment was a “crystal ball” that would allIt is anticipated that in five years’ time around 12 people will be employed in the new unit.

Acute services division chief executive Gerry Marr said society faced an enormous challenge in childhood asthma. The local community had a “close affection” for PRI and he believed there would be good local support.

The new facility will also allow more medical students to train at PRI.

As well as conducting research into childhood asthma, the unit will build on work already going on in the area of adult asthma and allergy at the Perth hospital.

A spokesman for Dundee University said, “This is a project which should bring real benefits to the university, NHS Tayside, Perth Royal Infirmary and the people of Perth and Kinross.

“Our aim is to establish a centre for teaching and research excellence at PRI, one which will compliment the excellent work already being done at our main campus in Dundee. We are delighted to be involved and look forward to further developing the university’s presence at PRI.”