Plans to build a world-leading medical research institute
at St Pancras in London have been approved by councillors at Camden
Town Hall. The UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation
(UKCMRI), designed by the architects HOK with PLP Architecture,
will have 1,500 staff including 1,250 scientists.
UKCMRI is founded by four of the world's leading
research organisations: the Medical Research Council, Cancer
Research UK, the Wellcome Trust and UCL (University College
London).
The members of the Development Control Committee
voted in favour of the £500 million project at a meeting at the
Town Hall.
The Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, Harpal Kumar
outlined the benefits of the project to the councillors.
Afterwards he welcomed their decision to approve the
scheme:
"The councillors have brought this institute significantly
closer to reality. It will help to tackle some of the most
difficult scientific and medical questions - bringing benefits to
health and helping us to treat and beat diseases that affect us all
- including cancers, heart disease and stroke, infections and
diseases of the immune and nervous systems. It will bring
benefits to health and be a national resource for the training and
development of scientists. It will engage the public in its work
and will provide educational benefits to schools locally and
nationally."
The chairman of UKCMRI, Sir David Cooksey was delighted by
the councillors' decision: "UKCMRI will harness the talent and
potential of doctors, nurses, biologists, mathematicians,
physicists, chemists, computer scientists and engineers to
understand the underlying causes of disease. This will
accelerate our ability to treat disease - bringing benefits to
patients through the NHS and to the economy by developing a sector
in which the UK already excels."
In October, the Government gave its commitment to UKCMRI
by confirming its investment in the project through the Medical
Research Council. Over half the funds are being contributed by
Cancer Research UK, the Wellcome Trust and UCL. The Prime Minister
David Cameron announced that UKCMRI would play a central role in
the Government's National Infrastructure Plan to ensure the UK
remains a world leader in science and research.
The construction of UKCMRI is expected to begin in
the Spring with completion in 2015.