The Peninsula medical school is to get £1.6million of funding over the next five years.

It's one of eight centres chosen to be part of a new national school for public health research - joining the likes of Cambridge University and University College London.

It's all part of a government initiative to build closer relationships between researchers and those responsible for public health.

In practice it could mean ensuring that any positive research being carried out regionally is extended nationally.

Peninsula specialises in promoting healthy lifestyles and trying to reduce disabilities in later life.

The school could split after Plymouth and Exeter universities controversially proposed going their separate ways in January.

Academics insist that even if that happens, local researchers will still be involved in the project.