4.8 million in European Research Grants for UCL

UCL has been awarded four prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grants, worth a total of '4.8 million to the university. The successful grant applicants overcame a highly competitive European-wide success rate of just 4% to secure funding at UCL. By contrast, UCL has been awarded 14 grants since the launch of the ERC, a success rate of 28% for its bids. Michael Browne, Head of European Research and Development at UCL, said: 'For UCL to continue its success with the ERC by securing another four grants, totalling '4.8 million, is excellent news for both the Principal Investigators (PI) involved, and for the institution as a whole. Since the main criteria for the ERC is to fund only the very best PIs, it really is testament to UCL as a hub of scientific excellence'. David Choi (UCL Institute of Neurology) received '1.6 million for a four-year project, which aims to use unique cells from the nose, called olfactory ensheathing cells, in patients who have had an injury to the nerves connecting the spinal cord to the arm. He explains: 'At the moment, these injuries are associated with permanent severe pain and paralysis of the arm.