Aston University unveils new £6 million membrane research facility

Aston University has officially opened a new research facility focused on developing and studying membranes, for applications such as water purification and drug discovery. Officials hope that the lab’s open-plan design will help foster collaboration between scientists and accelerate scientific discovery.

In 2024, Aston received £10 million in funding from Research England to establish the new facility, known as the Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (Aime). After two years of construction, the UK’s minister for science, Patrick Vallance, has now officially opened the £6.1 million laboratory. Aime will house around 60 scientists, including PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and technicians.