The University of Liverpool has been awarded £20.47 million to construct incubator space for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) working in the area of personalised medicines.
The Liverpool Bio Innovation Hub (LBIH) will include laboratory and office space and allow commercial access to the latest biobank technologies and equipment in the study of areas such as genomics, proteomics and metabolomics.
Part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), it will encompass more than 6,000 square metres of space in the Crown Street area of the city, situated next to the University’s Institute of Infection and Global Health.
Professor Munir Pirmohamed, Head of the Wolfson Centre for Personalised Medicine, said: “The Liverpool Bio Innovation Hub will foster collaborative working between researchers at the University, NHS partners, and many different types of companies to ensure that medical research is translated effectively into outputs that will benefit patients.
“It provides industry with access to expertise, biosamples and high-end equipment, as well as opportunities for researchers to work with commercial enterprises.
“The Hub, with the support of city and regional stakeholders, will synergise product development, create jobs in the Liverpool and Merseyside region, and support government strategy on enhancing health and creating wealth across the country.”
The Hub, which was developed with the support of the University’s Business Gateway team, will have its Topping Out ceremony on Thursday, 25 September, ahead of the building’s official opening in 2015.
