A health school dedicated to tackling the world’s killer diseases is to be launched

A health school dedicated to tackling the world's killer diseases has been launched.

Scientists at Edinburgh University's Global Health Academy will look into solutions to the spread of malaria and sleeping sickness in the developing world.

The centre brings together experts from the fields of medicine, engineering and social sciences who will attempt to translate their advances into practical help for some of the globe's poorest communities.

Pandemic flu, diabetes and obesity will also be studied at the academy, which offers a range of online postgraduate degrees.

Director Professor Sue Welburn said: "The Global Health Academy is an important statement both of the commitment of the University of Edinburgh and of academics and practitioners around the world who are joining us to address global health issues.

"This is a unique opportunity to delivery research-driven education programmes designed to build capacity at a local level."

Scientists at the University's Centre for Infectious Diseases is already running a campaign to stamp out sleeping sickness.

The initiative, funded by the UK Department for International Development, involves treating cattle with the disease before it can be passed on to humans via blood-sucking tsetse flies.

An estimated 50,000 people die of the disease every year in sub-Saharan Africa.