Two leading UK charities support pioneering planetary health science in Cornwall  

A University of Exeter Cornwall team has received two grants totalling £1.45 million to understand and remediate the effects of climate change at a microbiological level. 

The funding from the Wolfson Foundation and Garfield Weston Foundation supports the newly established Centre for Microbiology and Planetary Health (CMPH) at the Penryn campus. 

Will Gaze, Professor of Microbiology at the University of Exeter, said: “With the rise of climate change, antimicrobial resistance, food insecurity and energy and mineral supply there is greater need to understand and target these issues from a microbiological level. The Centre for Microbiology and Planetary Health will be the first in the world to bring an interdisciplinary approach to Planetary Health based on the study of microbes and the use of innovative microbial technologies to identify solutions.” 

Microbial processes are key regulators of global carbon and nitrogen cycles, contributing to greenhouse gas regulation, nutrient mineralisation, plant growth, and mineral extraction. Additionally, the overuse of antimicrobials in human, animal, and plant health has accelerated the emergence of drug-resistant microbes, making this research more urgent than ever. 

Martin Siegert, Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Cornwall campus, said: “The University of Exeter has unrivalled expertise in evolution and ecology focused microbial research. With more than 300 researchers in microbiology across the University, Exeter is uniquely placed to develop our current understanding of microbiology. This investment will provide research infrastructure critical to accelerating, enhancing and increasing microbiological solutions to ill-health, climate change, food production, bioremediation and sustainable metal and mineral bio-extraction.” 

These grants contribute to the University’s wider vision for campus investment, including proposals to refurbish 4,800m² of laboratory, working and teaching space. They will support expansion into new fields by helping attract talented researchers in complementary areas 

The development of the CMPH forms part of the University’s “Strategy 2030” to create a greener, healthier and fairer world.  

Microbiology research in Cornwall has grown across academic disciplines with the European Centre for Environment and Human Health; the Camborne School of Mines; and the Centre for Ecology and Conservation. 

Microbiology colleagues at Penryn coordinate the University’s Microbes and Society network that brings together 300+ researchers, representing one of the largest interdisciplinary microbiological communities in the UK. 

Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said: “Microbes go largely unnoticed and unappreciated in everyday life, and yet they play a critical role in all kinds of biological and ecological processes – and in fields as diverse as health, soil productivity, carbon storage and decontamination of polluted landscapes and waterways. The University of Exeter is well placed to accelerate research on how best to harness the power of microbes for good, and we are delighted to support the new Centre for Microbiology and Planetary Health procure essential equipment to underpin this effort.” 

Sophia Weston, Deputy Chair and Trustee of Garfield Weston Foundation, said: “We believe in supporting a diverse range of charities across the UK. From local community initiatives to large national projects, the common thread is that all our grantees make a real positive difference, improving lives and strengthening communities throughout the country. We are delighted to be supporting the work at the University of Exeter as they work towards finding a solution to some of our greatest global challenges.”