The aim of the laboratory was to produce cultures of cells from bees that are stable and can be reproduced over and over again for researchers to test drugs on.

Dr Declan Schroeder, who is Director of the Marine Biological Association Cell Culture Collection, noted similarities in viruses that attack honeybees and the ones found in marine biological systems. 

He is looking at deformed wing virus and working with Professor Stephen Martin who holds the chair of Animal Ecology at Salford University. 

They want to know why some deformed wing viruses are benign for bees and others cause great damage.

David Aston, past president of the BBKA, who was on the committee that approved the grant to the Marine Biological Association said: “If they can produce standardised cells it will allow much faster and safer comparative studies of new medicines for bees.

“The Hive laboratory is the only place in the UK doing work like this and the BBKA is proud that we have been able to support its creation.”