Edinburgh BioQuarter

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An aerial view of Edinburgh BioQuarter, 2010

The Edinburgh BioQuarter is a bioscience community based in the Little France area of Edinburgh. It is a key initiative in the development of Scotland's life sciences industry, which as of August 2020 employs more than 39,000 people in over 750 organisations.[1] An estimated 8,000 people work or study at the BioQuarter, generating £280 million in gross value added each year.[2]

History[]

Land for a new Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in the Little France area of Edinburgh was procured under a Private Finance Initiative contract in 1998. The hospital moved from its previous city centre location in 2003.[3] The Chancellor's Building of the University of Edinburgh Medical School opened on the same site in 2002.[4]

In 2007, Scottish Enterprise completed a series of land deals which cleared a 55-acre site for development adjacent to the existing Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and the creation of the BioQuarter was announced.[5] The initial key partners in the Edinburgh BioQuarter initiative were Scottish Enterprise/Scottish Development International, the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian. In early 2010, Mike Capaldi joined BioQuarter as Commercialisation Director and the development of an executive team and business creation programme were launched.[6] Later that year, the Queen's Medical Research Institute (QMRI) was opened, with the aim of addressing major disease challenges in Cardiovascular Science, Inflammation Research, Regenerative Medicine and Reproductive Health.[7]

In August 2010, author JK Rowling endowed research at the BioQuarter with a £10 million gift to create the .[8] The clinic was officially opened in October 2013.[9]

In 2011, the BioQuarter was joined by the Centre for Regenerative Medicine (CRM), dedicated to the study and development of new regenerative treatments for human diseases.[7][10] The CRM building was officially opened by Anne, Princess Royal on 28 May 2012.[11]

Edinburgh BioQuarter's first commercial facility, Nine, was established in 2012; this was joined in 2016 by Nine A, housing the Centre for Dementia Prevention.[7]

In 2017, Edinburgh Council joined Edinburgh BioQuarter as a new key partner.[7][12]

An extension of the Edinburgh Trams network connecting Edinburgh BioQuarter to the city centre (Line 3) had been proposed in 2001 but was shelved due to lack of Scottish Parliament approval. However, plans for a similar extension were revived in 2019 as part of a project to transform transport in Edinburgh city centre.[13]

In 2021, planning approval for a new building to house the University's [14] was given by council planners, with construction to begin in July 2021.[15]

Facilities and companies[]

An artist's impression of the Centre for Regenerative Medicine

Facilities at Edinburgh BioQuarter include:

  • the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, a teaching hospital with >900 beds.
  • the Chancellor's Building, University of Edinburgh Medical School.
  • the Queen's Medical Research Institute (QMRI). The QMRI houses part of the Edinburgh Imaging Facility (until 2017, the Clinical Research Imaging Centre), opened by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in October 2010.[16]
  • the Centre for Regenerative Medicine (CRM), which applies stem cell research to find new therapies for conditions such including multiple sclerosis and heart and liver disease.[17][18][19]
  • the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, specialising in paediatric healthcare. The hospital was due to open in July 2019,[20] but was delayed due to faults in the air conditioning and drainage systems.[21][22] The hospital was officially opened on 23 March 2021.[23]

Companies at Edinburgh BioQuarter include:[24]

  • Fios Genomics – genomic and bioinformatics data analysis services for drug discovery & development.[25]
  • RoslinCT - GMP contract manufacturing and development organisation, originally founded as Roslin Cells in 2006.[26]
  • Aquila BioMedical Ltd.
  • Calcivis.
  • Edinburgh Molecular Imaging.

See also[]

  • Midlothian BioCampus, a nearby life sciences enterprise area
  • Inverness Campus, Highland

References[]

  1. ^ "Scotland's life sciences and biotech industry information". www.sdi.co.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  2. ^ Newlands, Emma. "The Big Interview: Anna Stamp, interim programme director, Edinburgh BioQuarter". www.scotsman.com. The Scotsman. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh History". org.nhslothian.scot. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh from The Gazetteer for Scotland". www.scottish-places.info. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  5. ^ "BioQuarter centre 'worth £350m'". BBC News. BBC. 7 May 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Commercialisation director revealed for Edinburgh BioQuarter". Scottish Enterprise Newsroom. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "A History of Life Sciences Breakthroughs". Edinburgh Bioquarter. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Rowling gives £10m for MS centre". BBC News. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  9. ^ "JK Rowling's MS clinic is opened". BBC News. 8 October 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  10. ^ "Centre for Regenerative Medicine". The University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Princess Royal opens Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine". BBC News. BBC. 28 May 2012.
  12. ^ McGuire, Sara. "Council approves next steps for BioQuarter expansion". The City of Edinburgh Council. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Plans for new Edinburgh tram loop unveiled". BBC News. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  14. ^ "Usher Institute". The University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  15. ^ Stephen, Phyllis (31 May 2021). "Planning approval for new Usher Institute". The Edinburgh Reporter. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Official Opening of Clinical Research Imaging Centre Edinburgh — SINAPSE". www.sinapse.ac.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  17. ^ "Multiple sclerosis". The University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  18. ^ "Heart disease". The University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  19. ^ "Liver disease and cancer". The University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  20. ^ "Edinburghs new children's hospital to open in six weeks". www.buildingbetterhealthcare.com. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  21. ^ Picken, Andrew (6 August 2019). "Edinburgh Kids' Hospital will cost a further £90m". BBC News. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  22. ^ Moncur, James (1 August 2020). "Public inquiry into Edinburgh's Sick Kids' Hospital 'must deliver answers'". Daily Record. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  23. ^ "Edinburgh Sick Kids: The unusable hospital that is finally open". BBC. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  24. ^ "Leading & Innovative Life Science Companies". Edinburgh Bioquarter. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  25. ^ "Fios Genomics | Case Study". Edinburgh Bioquarter. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  26. ^ "RoslinCT | Case Study". Edinburgh Bioquarter. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.

External links[]

Coordinates: 55°55′19″N 3°08′11″W / 55.92194°N 3.13639°W / 55.92194; -3.13639

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