The University of Newcastle will soon be home to a highly advanced facility that helps researchers study the structure and functions of proteins.

The Mass Spectrometry Facility is one of three new pieces of equipment on its way to the University through more than $1.4 million in funding from the Australian Research Council's (ARC) Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) Projects Scheme.

The Facility will be pivotal to research into a broad range of areas including asthma, reproductive science and neuroscience.

The University has also received funding for equipment that allows scientists to see the protein activity inside cells in real time, and for an electron microscope that allows researchers to study materials and biological tissues at extreme magnification.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Barney Glover, said the funding was critical to building the University's core research infrastructure.

"These three pieces of equipment will provide outstanding support to the University's research strengths in health, science and engineering, and energy and the environment," Professor Glover said.

"They will support the work of several Priority Research Centres at the University, assisting hundreds of academics and students to traverse new ground. Many of these conduct research in collaboration with the Hunter Medical Research Institute.

"Most of the projects made possible by this equipment are National Research Priority Areas for the Australian Government, in particular 'Promoting and Maintaining Good Health'."

Today's funding announcement follows the funding last month of 24 new research projects by the ARC, and the record $14.8 million from the National Health and Medical Research Council to Newcastle for 18 research projects, infrastructure and equipment.