A new £4m computer centre in Oxford has given a major boost to University researchers.

The centre will help solve problems ranging from the physiology of the heart and the structure of DNA, to flow in jet engines and the weathering of rocks.

A three-ton supercomputer known as OSCAR will be at the heart of the centre, at the Wolfson Building, Parks Road, Oxfordwhich has been established by 18 research groups from 12 academic departments.

Professor of Cardiovascular Physiology, Denis Noble, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to take our work all the way through to creating the conditions of a heart attack on computer, and so unravel its mechanism and treatment."

The Higher Education Funding Council for England provided £1.3m towards the centre, with £2m from Silicon Graphics and £58,000 from Rolls Royce plc.

Mr Javaid Aziz, of Silicon Graphics, said: "The centre represents a world class facility that will enable many of the UK's most accomplished researchers to accelerate their important work.

"The team at Oxford will now be able to address many of their toughest and most complex computational challenges."

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