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Oxford scientists are celebrating after being given a £2m boost for medical research.

Two teams of Oxford University researchers were awarded a total of £1.3m, while Oxford University spin-out company Brainomix, which develops medical imaging software for the treatment of stroke, received £663,000.

Dr Trevor Yeung of the Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences and his team, which includes Dr Elizabeth Bird-Lieberman of Oxford University Hospitals Trust, was awarded £634,000. Their work, which involves a fluorescent dye being sprayed on to the lining of the bowel, could help doctors distinguish between normal and cancerous tissues.

Dr Bird-Lieberman commented: 'We are delighted to receive this prestigious funding as we feel this work has potential to improve care for colon cancer. We feel that the best way to decrease cancer rates and improve outcome is by early detection and this work has the potential to do this for colon cancer.'

Researchers at the Jenner Institute working on a universal flu vaccine were awarded almost £700,000. Lead scientist Professor Sarah Gilbert said: ‘We are very pleased because it’s the next step in a programme we have been working on for a while.’

The funding comes from the Biomedical Catalyst, a joint programme run by the Medical Research Council and Innovate UK.