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.