The Medical Research Council has chosen Oxford University to be awarded a grant of £750,000 after finding it outstanding in its work, according to a latest report. Another winner to receive an almost equal amount of funding is Dundee University.

The two are amongst a total of 14 universities that have been chosen to be a part of the council's `Confidence in Concept' scheme. It has been found that the Technology Strategy Board along with the Medical Research Council manages some £180 million Biomedical Catalyst fund and has specifically selected Oxford to get a part of the same.

As per the findings, other universities receiving grants ranging from £360,000 to £750,000 would all be using the money for their pilot projects, nearly 150 in number. Oxford University would also be utilizing the huge sum in the development of a `pipeline'. It is being said that the project would allow all novel discoveries in science laboratories across the city to gather at one peak of clinical development and testing.

"It's not always easy for researchers to get the funding they need, to see if their novel research could have promise as a new treatment for patients", said Oxford's Associate Head, Professor Rodney Phillips.