Wyeth is to invest £33 million, with SE giving £17 million, backing four Scottish universities and their local health authority partners to make a leap forward in developing new drug treatments more quickly.

But the lion’s share of the investment is to come to Dundee.

This recognises the city’s prominence and expertise in bringing research developments from the laboratory into local clinics for the direct benefit of patients.

It will be the “hub” leading the project, involving other major medical academic establishments at the universities of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Speaking at the Glasgow launch, Ninewells-based internationally-renowned cancer researcher Professor Roland Wolf could barely contain his enthusiasm.

“I think this is a fantastic thing for the University of Dundee and for the hospital in general,” said Prof. Wolf.

“As a consequence of this there is going to be a new building in Dundee that will hold up to 120 scientific staff on the Ninewells site to house the hub of this initiative.

“There is going to be probably up to £30 million in research money over the next five years coming to Dundee to run this building and research projects with the university and the NHS.

“There will be a very significant investment in Dundee and the infrastructure to create this initiative, which is of international, not just local, significance.”

The major cash boost will help find new treatments for, among others, cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

While the new building at Ninewells is expected to be built and operational in about two years’ time, Prof. Rolf said he expected some early research projects to be starting in the autumn.

Discussions have been going on for two years to arrive at today’s announcement.

“The whole basis of this co-operation is to develop new diagnostic tests for human diseases so you can diagnose disease early and subdivide diseases into treatable groups most likely to benefit from new treatments,” explained Prof. Wolf.

He said the work would give drug companies an early indication their drugs were working in the way they were asking them to work.

Researchers have long been looking for ways to predict how drugs will work in individuals and why some people react differently from other people given the same drug. The ability to do that would speed up drug development.

The holy grail is personalised medicine with drugs that will react to an individual’s unique make-up.

Scottish Health Minister Andy Kerr said the reason Dundee was chosen for the core research centre was because of the “blend of people and skills” already there.

“There really is a great sense of pride in what they are doing and creating there. We have got lots of collaborative work going on that is world class.”

A major new centre for clinical research is already being created on the Ninewells site, driven by academics and clinicians involved in today’s announcement.

When that opens it will draw many more people into drug trials and treatment developments.

The £12.1 million centre was given the go ahead by Dundee councillors last summer and is expected to be operational by early next year.

The SE cash announced today will be used to set up a new company to be called TMRI. It will act as a link between the universities involved, the drug companies and the NHS in Scotland.

Dundee West MSP Kate Maclean said, “This development is of inestimable value to the reputation of Dundee as a worldwide centre of excellence for Life Sciences, as well as a welcome boost to the local economy.”

Mr Peter Bates, Chairman, NHS Tayside, added, “Dundee University is internationally-recognised as a world leader in life sciences and this development represents a further step in improving treatments and interventions for patients.”

Dundee City Council Economic Development Convener, Councillor Joe Morrow said, ““The city council is a long-term supporter of the local biotech industry. I look forward to the very positive economic spin-offs this will have for the city.”