£5m for gut-busting health centre

Obesity is one of the problems to be researched at the centre

Belfast is one of five UK cities to get a new health research centre to take the lead in solving problems like obesity and smoking.

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said it had "the potential to improve the health of our population".

He said "world-class" experts from a range of disciplines would be working at the facility in Queen's University.

Up to £5m funding over five years will be made available to each of the five centres.

The other centres will be established at existing facilities in Newcastle, Cardiff, Cambridge and Nottingham.

"There have been big improvements in health and life expectancy over the last decades," said Mr McGimpsey.

"However, Northern Ireland still faces challenges to improve public health and ensure that, as a society, we benefit from longer and healthier lives."

The initiative is being funded by the UK Clinical Research Collaboration, an umbrella group made up of health charities and regional bodies.