Official Launch of the Eleanor & Guy Dodson Building
Posted on 6 October 2023
Official Launch of the Eleanor & Guy Dodson Building
Situated at the heart of the Department of Biology, the building is named after Guy and Eleanor Dodson, who arrived in York in 1976. Among their most notable achievements was the discovery of the techniques that ultimately led to the final solution of the crystal structure of insulin. Equipped with cutting-edge scientific infrastructure, the new facility will become home to a community of scientists working together for the common good-a highly fitting tribute to their vision, talent, and legacy.
This long-term project would not have been possible without the generous support of philanthropic donors. Gifts from Department of Chemistry alumnus Dr. Anthony Wild, along with grants from the Wolfson Foundation and the Wellcome Trust, have enabled the realisation of this important research investment. The range of funders attracted to this project reflects the interdisciplinary nature of the research that will be conducted in this state-of-the-art structure.
Bringing Together Diverse Talents in Science Under a New Building
Researchers from various departments, academics, students, donors, and the philanthropy office were all reunited last Thursday to celebrate the conclusion of what has been a long-term involvement project. The initial opening, scheduled during the Covid period and subsequently cancelled, led to the decision to postpone the opening to a later date. This decision turned out to be a great idea, as the University was honoured to have 2017 Nobel Prize winner Richard Henderson in Chemistry come to York to inaugurate this new facility in structural biology.
Dr Jamie Blaza, the academic lead on the cryoEM facility, added: “Our key pieces of equipment, the electron microscope, NMR magnet, x-ray source, and crystallisation space, all have demanding environmental requirements for optimal performance.
“Even harder than that, they all have different requirements to each other. By providing us with a building designed from scratch around these activities, the Eleanor and Guy Dodson Building will offer YSBL a perfect home to our structural biology equipment for decades to come.”
This new infrastructure marks the advancement of research; it will not only help us realise our ambitions to bring forth new ideas and concepts but also serves our ambition to be a University of Public Good.