RESEARCH into the causes and treatment of cancer was given a boost yesterday when scientists moved into a new £25m university complex.

The building, which is dedicated to cutting-edge biology developments at the University of York, will allow extra research programmes to be undertaken and create new technical and administrative jobs.

Comprising three wings, the building includes laboratories and a central technology hub, with specialist equipment worth £5m.

The hub, known as the technology facility, will allow the university's international research teams to use the most modern technologies in areas such as cancer research, plant biotechnology and ecology.

It has been funded through the Joint Infrastructure Fund (JIF) by the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council, with major contributions from Yorkshire Cancer Research, which has funded an entire laboratory, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

JIF's grant of more than £20m is one of the largest ever awarded.

Work will now begin to refurbish the existing biology laboratories in a second phase, which will be completed next year.

Professor Sir Ron Cooke, Vice-Chancellor of the university, said: "This is a first-class scientific environment, the equal of any in the UK, which reflects the continuing success of the university and, in particular, the bio-sciences at York."

Professor Alastair Fitter, head of the biology department, said: "These superb laboratories will allow us to make real progress with our exciting and ground-breaking work on the causes and treatment of cancer, the ways in which molecules interact in living cells, sustainable agriculture, and understanding biodiversity in the natural world."