Princess Royal opens Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine
28 May 2012
Research into conditions such as multiple sclerosis and heart and liver disease will benefit from multi-million pound stem cell research and life sciences facilities opened today (Monday) by HRH, the Princess Royal.
The Princess Royal unveiled plaques at the £54m Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine (SCRM) and £24m bio-incubator facility, Nine, in Edinburgh. The centre, funded by the University of Edinburgh, the Medical Research Council (MRC), Scottish Enterprise and the British Heart Foundation, was opened by the Princess in her role as Chancellor of the University.
The University of Edinburgh’s Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine will carry out cutting-edge stem cell research to help find therapies for patients with conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, and heart and liver diseases.
The centre is the first large-scale, purpose-built facility of its kind and provides accommodation for up to 250 stem cell scientists. It includes the most up to date facilities in the UK, which meet the highest guidelines, to manufacture stem cell lines that could be used to treat patients.
Nine, which has been jointly funded by Scottish Enterprise and the UK Government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, provides 85,000 square feet of laboratory and office space for both established biotechnology companies and start-up ventures. These could include potential spin-out companies from the University of Edinburgh.
Both buildings form a major investment in research at Edinburgh BioQuarter, which is in the city’s Little France area and encompasses the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and the University of Edinburgh’s Queen’s Medical Research Institute and Chancellor’s Building.
Professor Charles ffrench-Constant, Director of the Medical Research Council Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the SCRM and Chair of Medical Neurology at the University of Edinburgh, said:
“Recent research into stem cells has heralded the beginning of a revolution in modern medicine. The Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine’s great strength lies in bringing world-class clinicians and scientists to work together, encouraging the translation of laboratory discoveries into treatments for patients. The research will help in finding treatments for devastating conditions, for which there are currently no cures.”
Jim McFarlane, Managing Director of Operations at Scottish Enterprise, said:
“Scotland has a distinguished history in developing breakthroughs in medical science and we believe that, collectively, the concentration of world-class research and facilities at Edinburgh BioQuarter will provide a breeding ground conducive to new medical discoveries that will continue that tradition for centuries to come and have a significant impact on the Scottish economy. Today marks a significant milestone in cementing Scotland’s global reputation for excellence in commercialisation of medical research.”
Dr Wendy Ewart, Deputy Chief Executive of the MRC, said:
“We’re at a very exciting stage in regenerative medicine research and we are already beginning to reap the benefits of substantial and long-standing investment from the MRC in this field to date. The opening of these fantastic new facilities marks another important milestone in our drive to turn this increasing capability into new treatments that will transform patients’ lives.”
Edinburgh BioQuarter is a joint venture between Alexandria Real Estate Equities, NHS Lothian, Scottish Enterprise and the University of Edinburgh to boost developments in life sciences. This includes assisting the formation of spin-out companies from NHS and University of Edinburgh research, as well as encouraging partnerships with the bio-pharmaceutical industry.
