UK science minister opens £6.1 million membrane research lab

A new £6.1 million research laboratory at Aston University aims to accelerate membrane research by bringing together scientists and engineers to develop technologies for healthcare, environmental protection and industry.

The Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME) laboratory was officially opened by Lord Vallance, UK minister for science, innovation, research and nuclear. The facility forms part of AIME, a cross-disciplinary institute launched in 2024 with a £10 million award from Research England to investigate advanced membrane technologies.

Membranes play a critical role in a wide range of applications, from separating molecules in industrial processes to supporting water purification and developing new approaches in healthcare. By combining expertise from chemistry, biology, physics and engineering in a single research environment, AIME aims to accelerate the development of new membrane-based solutions.

The 400 m² laboratory has been designed to encourage collaboration between researchers, with open layouts that allow different disciplines to work alongside each other. The facility will support around 60 researchers, including research leads, AIME Fellows, PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, technicians and visiting scientists.

The laboratory includes dedicated areas for bioscience and chemical research, alongside shared access to major equipment. It also incorporates accessibility features including step-free access, height-adjustable workstations and integrated design features to support inclusive research.

Lord Vallance said the facility represents an important investment in UK research capability and highlighted the potential of membrane technologies across areas including water purification and healthcare.

“The work being done on membranes has potential in areas ranging from water purification to new treatments for dementia,” he said. “The West Midlands has a thriving science sector which puts it at the heart of the next wave of groundbreaking discoveries and economic growth.”

Professor Roslyn Bill and Professor Paul Topham, directors of AIME, said the new facility would help researchers work across traditional scientific boundaries.

“This facility transforms the way we do science,” they said. “By bringing together researchers from across biology, chemistry, physics and engineering in a purpose-designed environment, we have created the conditions for ideas to be exchanged more freely, collaborations to develop more naturally and discoveries to be translated more rapidly into real-world impact.”

The opening took place during Lord Vallance’s visit to Birmingham and the West Midlands, where he also launched regional projects supported through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund. The initiative aims to help businesses develop and scale near-market products and services across sectors including advanced manufacturing, health and life sciences, and creative technologies.

Aston University said the new facility will strengthen collaboration between researchers, industry and public sector partners, helping translate scientific discoveries into practical applications.

Professor Mike Caine, interim Vice-Chancellor at Aston University, said: “Universities have a vital role to play in innovation. Our mission is not simply to generate knowledge, but to ensure that knowledge drives shared prosperity to benefit the region and beyond.”

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