Glasgow University has beaten Cambridge and Oxford to win the contract for a £28m viral research centre, which will spearhead pioneering research into disease outbreaks such as swine flu.
More than 100 scientists and support staff will be employed at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Virology Research at the university's Garscube campus in Bearsden.
The centre will be responsible for detecting and monitoring new viruses and for developing antiviral drugs and vaccines. The aim is to create a hub of excellence in virology research to ensure that Britain is fully prepared for any future disease threats.
The current swine flu outbreak has highlighted the importance of disease research and surveillance.
To date, almost 8,000 people across Britain, including more than 1,325 in Scotland,