£7m pollen research centre plans

The climate-controlled room would recreate any environment

A £7m test centre including a climate-controlled room is proposed by a university to research allergies.

The University of Worcester said the new centre would expand its National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit, which has been running for 12 years.

The climate-controlled room will allow researchers to recreate any environment in the world.

That will allow them to assess how conditions such as asthma are affected by heat and humidity.

Pollen forecasts

The present research unit is dedicated to investigating allergens such as pollen and house dust mites to see how people with asthma and hay fever can manage their conditions.

It also provides UK weather forecasters with pollen forecasts.

Centre director Professor Jean Emberlin said: "There is a strong emphasis on air quality and health, something which we are only too aware of with illnesses such as asthma having a very high prevalence in the UK."

The plans for the test centre have now been submitted to Worcester City Council.