A state-of-the-art system that uses lasers as tweezers to dissect cells will soon be in place at the University of Newcastle.

The laser microdissection microscopy system is one of three new pieces of equipment on its way to the University through more than $1.3 million in funding from the Australian Research Council's (ARC) Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) Projects Scheme.

The system will be used by reproductive scientists, cancer researchers and plant scientists to analyse the genetic composition of individual cells from animals, human tissue and plants.

The University has also received funding for a nuclear magnetic resonance facility that helps researchers study the structure of proteins. The information provided by the facility will support a number of research projects, including the development of new methods to detect narcotics and explosives.

A third piece of equipment funded under the LIEF Projects Scheme is a laser facility that assists chemical engineers to measure rapidly changing flows of liquid, gas and particles.

"These are very important pieces of equipment that will be used by teams across several Priority Research Centres at the University," Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Mike Calford, said.

"They will also help our researchers train the next generation of scientists, which is essential for the future of research locally and nationally."

The LIEF funding announcement follows the funding in October of 26 new research projects by the ARC and 13 by the National Health and Medical Research Council.