University set to open new ‘world-leading’ medical centre
● Imaging Centre of Excellence to contribute £88m to the local economy
The University of Glasgow will officially open its new stateof-the-art £32 million Imaging Centre of Excellence (ICE) for precision medicine tomorrow.
Theuniquemedicalresearch facility, which was built in collaboration with NHS Greater Glasgowandclyde(nhsggc) and with £16m funding from the Medical Research Council and Glasgow City Region City Deal, will be opened by the Chief Executive Designate of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Professor Sir Mark Walport.
The opening event, which is also part of the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences’ Industry Day, will also be attended by Sadie Doherty, Lord Provost of Glasgow, and Frank Mcaveety, leader of Glasgow City Council.
ICE brings together worldleading research, cutting edge technology and international business investment under one roof and will act as a hub for translating science into economic and patient benefit for Glasgow, Scotland and the UK.
The project will bring 396 new high-value jobs to the city over a seven year period and has been independently assessed to contribute £88m to the local economy. With aims to become a global centre of excellence for precision medicine, the building is already home to Scotland’s first 7 Tesla MRI scanner – the first of its kind in the UK in a clinical setting.
The scanner will be a focus of research for clinical and nonclinical academic imaging specialists and clinical physics expertise.
The state of the art building will also house the Clinical Innovation Zone, a space dedicated to biomedical companies, which will facilitate industry collaborations and the development of innovative healthcare technology.
There will also be a further floor of neuro operating theatres, which will be funded by the NHS GGC. Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak, Vice Principal and Head of the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, said: “ICE will be a world-leading example of a precision medicine centre, bringing together the key partners of the University of Glasgow, the NHS and industry together to further clinical
0 Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak inside the £32m ICE at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow research and ultimately bring economic and patient benefits not only for Glasgow, but to the whole of Scotland.
“The ICE isn’t about ivory tower research, it is about bringing world-leading clinical academics together with industry to collaborate and to create something that not only positively benefits patients but also brings a meaningful economic benefit as well.”
The Clinical Innovation Zone has already attracted international small and mediumsize enterprises (SMES) from around the world, including Germany and Singapore. ICE is one of three projects in the Glasgow City Region City Deal’s Innovation and Growth theme, alongside Medicity and The Tontine, Centre for Business Incubation and Development.
Councillor Frank Mcaveety, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet, said: “Glasgow is one of the world’s most innovative cities – with both a proud history and a bright future in life sciences and new technologies.
“This fantastic new facility is a great example of how our ground-breaking Glasgow City Region City Deal is already helping to reinforce that global reputation – while delivering jobs, infrastructure and other economic and social benefits.”