Mayor backs UKCMRI "beacon of excellence"

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has approved plans to build the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation. The application was referred to the Mayor for consideration once it was approved by the London of Borough of Camden in December.

In a letter to Camden Council today, the Mayor confirmed he was content to sign off approval on the proposal.  He said: "This visionary new centre will become a beacon of excellence in the fight against fatal diseases, making a real difference to the treatment of patients.

"What is more, top class scientists from around the globe will be looking to London as a global centre for medical research, attracting the brightest and best scientific minds to the capital.

"I look forward to hearing about major medical breakthroughs stemming directly from the work of the scientists at this fabulous new facility."

The pioneering laboratory and research institute, located at St Pancras, will become a world class facility for cancer research, securing 1,500 jobs, strengthening the capital's reputation as a centre for excellence for medical science and helping maintain its competitiveness in health education.

The Director and Chief Executive of UKCMRI, Sir Paul Nurse said:

"Our ambition is to harness the extraordinary scientific excellence of both London and the United Kingdom to improve health and fight disease. UKCMRI will be an institute where discoveries will be made by researchers from many disciplines - biologists, chemists, physicists, engineers, computer scientists and mathematicians - working together in new ways.  This will speed up our ability to tackle diseases including cancer, heart disease and stroke, infections and diseases of the immune and nervous systems.  It will improve the health and lives of families throughout the world and will bring enormous opportunities for the London and UK economy."

The plans include a lecture theatre, exhibition space and teaching laboratory, while at the same time regenerating an overlooked part of London's urban realm.

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