DURHAM University is celebrating after being award £12.6m for scientific research projects.

Durham's award for 2004-2006 from the Government's Scientific Research Investment Fund (SRIF) is almost double what it got in 2002.

The money will go towards equipment and facilities that will enable vital research in areas such as developing new drugs, nanotechnology and developing understanding of humanity's impact on the environment.

The universities have to find match funding of ten per cent, down from the 25 per cent required in the first round of grants from the fund.

Durham's Vice-Chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman said he was 'delighted' with the award.

The university will identify where to spend the money and submit proposals to the Higher Education Funding Council.

Key research areas at the university include nanotechnology, photonics, biological and biomedical sciences, chemistry, physics and engineering.

Durham, one of the top 12 research universities, got £7.9 million in the last round of SRIF, which it used to create research centres in e-science applications and bio-active chemistry.

Following completion of the e-science centre later this year, existing infrastructure will be refurbished to develop a base for research in bio-active chemistry and provision of equipment to establish laboratories for a wide range of areas including surface biotechnology and biomaterial engineering.