Studying the cells that develop into blood vessels.
© Noel Murphy

The creation of The Francis Crick Institute has been made possible by an innovative partnership between a UK Government funding agency, two charities and three leading universities.

The Medical Research Council is a publicly funded organisation dedicated to improving human health through world-class medical research. It supports more than 4,000 scientists across a wide spectrum of research to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat disease on behalf of the UK taxpayer.

Cancer Research UK is the world's leading charity dedicated to cancer research, supporting the work of more than 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses across the UK. It carries out world-class research to improve understanding of cancer and to find out how to prevent, diagnose and treat different kinds of the disease.

The Wellcome Trust is a global charitable foundation dedicated to achieving extraordinary improvements in human and animal health. It supports the brightest minds in biomedical research and the medical humanities. The Trust's breadth of support includes public engagement, education and the application of research to improve health. It is independent of both political and commercial interests.

UCL (University College London) is London's global university — a research and teaching powerhouse in the heart of one of the world's most dynamic cities. It is the most productive centre for academic medical research in Europe and works in partnership with 11 top London hospitals.

Imperial College London is consistently rated among the world's best universities. A science-based institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research, it attracts 14,000 students and 6,000 staff of the highest international quality.

King's College London is one of the top 30 universities in the world (2011/12 QS World University Rankings), and the fourth oldest in England. The College has an outstanding reputation for providing world-class teaching and cutting-edge research. It is the largest centre for the education of healthcare professionals in Europe; no university has more Medical Research Council Centres.