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news release
P/2003/216	2 April 2003

£11.5 MILLION FOR WORLD-LEADING PROJECT AT THE DARESBURY LABORATORY

Ministers give go-ahead for the next development stage of 4GLS in Cheshire

The building of the world-leading 4GLS (4^th generation light source) has come one step closer with the announcement today of £11.5 million for an exploratory phase of the project. This phase involves a 3-year study to establish the technical know-how needed to build this innovative scientific research facility, including the construction of a prototype test facility.

4GLS is a proposed major research facility. If constructed, it would produce very short pulses of light, over a million, million, million times brighter than a household light bulb. Its peak power would be roughly equivalent to that needed to light every home in London. It would allow researchers to study molecules working in real time, follow chemical reactions as they happen, look at potential drug molecules as they interact with cells and examine the spin of electrons. The research carried out on 4GLS would help develop the next generation of computer memories, pharmaceuticals and catalysts.

Lord Sainsbury, Science and Innovation Minister said;

“This 3-year study into the technology behind 4GLS is an important step towards placing Daresbury at the cutting edge of accelerator science. 4GLS would provide scientists with a first-class facility to conduct vital experiments in many disciplines. Its potential capability is unique in the world, and its capacity to combine a wide range of experiments would establish the UK as a major international player in this technology.”

Professor Elaine Seddon, the 4GLS Project Manager, at CCLRC Daresbury Laboratory, said;

“This is a tremendous day for Daresbury Laboratory, and a great recognition of the abilities of the Daresbury staff who have done some real ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking to generate this truly next generation project. Twenty years ago, Daresbury demonstrated that it could lead the world with the building of the world’s first ‘second generation’ source, the current SRS- now we have shown that we can lead the world again with 4^th generation technology.”

This news provides confirmation of a bright future for the Daresbury Laboratory, coming as it does hot on the heels of the award of two other major projects:

• HPCx - a £53 million project won by the laboratory last year to develop the most powerful academic research computer in Europe;
• SuperSTEM - a project based at the laboratory and run by the Universities of Liverpool and Cambridge to develop the world’s most powerful microscope.

The Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) have also announced today that they are investing £25.7 million in order to develop a science park at Daresbury Laboratory, providing a direct link from the Laboratory’s research to industry.

4GLS was originally part of a multi-faceted proposal named CASIM (Centre for Accelerator Science Imaging and Medicine). The other large facility component was a proton cyclotron project called SIRIUS. After careful consideration of the scientific need for SIRIUS, it has been decided that although there is a case for the evaluation of protons as a treatment option, it is not perceived as a priority by the majority of stakeholders. For this reason the prospective partners in the project: the Department of Health, the Medical Research Council and the DTI, feel they cannot support and contribute to the project. Assistance will be provided through the Research Councils to provide access to international facilities for scientists in this field.

Notes to Editors

1. The DTI is providing £11.5 million for this exploratory phase; £8million through the Office of Science and Technology and £3.5 million through the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC).
2. 4GLS is undergoing the Office of Government Commerce’s  ‘Gateway process’ . This process ensures that large, complex or novel Government projects are investigated and managed thoroughly. There are 6 stages altogether (0-5), and stages 0 and 1 needed to be passed before the decision to release the £11.5m for this exploratory phase could be made. It passed stage 0, the science case in March 2002 and stage 1, the business justification in November 2002. It will now proceed to the next stage.
3. The proton cyclotron, SIRIUS, was also submitted to the Gateway process. Although the nuclear physics elements of the proposal were rated highly a further review of the science case in 2002 concluded that that the clinical elements of the proposal were not widely supported by the target user community. A final decision was withheld until the outcome of the National Cancer Research Institute’s review of the UK’s requirements in radiobiology and radiotherapy was known.
4. The review to be published in May 2003, has concluded that although there is a case for the evaluation of protons, and light and heavy ions as a treatment option, it is not perceived as a priority by the majority of stakeholders. In view of these conclusions none of the prospective partners in the project: the Department of Health, the Medical Research Council and the Office of Science and Technology feel able to support and contribute to the project. Assistance will be provided through the Research Councils to provide access to international facilities for scientists in this field.
5. The 4GLS project underwent scientific peer review in early 2002, attracting comments such as ‘this proposal is cutting edge in every respect’ and ‘this is an outstanding scientific proposal, of the type that (only) arises every decade or so’.
6. In November 2002, the business case was the subject of a 4-day OGC (Office of Government Commerce) review - and passed with flying colours. The review team report stated that ‘The 4GLS provides an opportunity for the UK to take a world lead at the forefront of the science and application of accelerators ... the thrust of the project is firmly about providing an excellent world class facility’. The review panel complimented the 4GLS team, drawn from Daresbury Laboratory, UMIST and Liverpool University, on their excellent consultation with prospective users, noting that this had resulted in a project ‘generating intense excitement’.
7. The 4GLS design concept, developed by Daresbury staff, is truly revolutionary. Light is produced by a combination of two new technologies, an energy recovery linac (ERL) and free electron lasers (FELs), which together result in light up to a million times more intense than that from conventional ‘third generation’ synchrotron technology. 4GLS will be the most advanced low energy light source in the world.
8. The exploratory phase funding will enable a three-year research, development and design study programme. This will address technology challenges and ensure full and broad ranging exploitation of the Energy Recovery Linac (ERL) and Free Electron Laser (FEL) capabilities central to the 4GLS project. For more information visit http://www.4gls.ac.uk/
9. The 4GLS project team is lead by Prof Elaine Seddon (Project Manager at Daresbury), Prof Wendy Flavell (UMIST, and Chair of the 4GLS Strategy Group) and Prof Peter Weightman of Liverpool, and Chair of the 4GLS Steering Group). The team includes staff from many parts of the CCLRC, including synchrotron radiation department (SRD), the Accelerator Science and Technology Centre (ASTeC) and the Central Laser Facility (CLF).

For further information on 4GLS and Daresbury contact:

Tony Buckley (CCLRC Daresbury Laboratory Press Officer) Tel: 01925 603272, Mob: 07799 767603, e-mail a.g.buckley@dl.ac.uk

Or Helen Fielding, DTI Press Office on 020 7215 6140 or 07801 089388

For further information on the NWDA’s announcement of £25.7m to develop a science park at Daresbury, please contact;

Rachel Handford, Press Officer at the NWDA on 01925 400237 or 07810 528449

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