Nottingham’s strong biomedical research base and recent major investment in translational medicine makes it the perfect location to create a place of powerful synergy between the NHS, academia and industry.
That was the message of Brian Thomson, Director of Research and Development at Nottingham University Hospitals, to a meeting of leading medical businesses.
He was speaking at No.1 Nottingham Science Park, the latest completed project in Nottingham’s Science City portfolio, a spectacular eco icon by specialist regeneration developer Blueprint that will be linked to the nearby Queen’s Medical Centre and the proposed Nottingham MediPark by the city’s ambitious tramway programme in 2013.
“Nottingham’s range of initiatives under the Science City banner are creating real opportunities for co-location for the NHS and academia with commercial healthcare that will be of enormous mutual benefit. Nottingham is ideally placed to drive forward this important collaborative concept, which is becoming central to the Governments plans for expansion of research in the NHS” said Dr Thomson.
He pointed out that Nottingham was alone in being awarded three Biomedical Research Units by the Department of Health, representing a large scale investment in infrastructure and promoting strong partnership between the NHS, academia and industry. This success had identified the partnership between Nottingham University Hospitals and the University of Nottingham as a potential site for further investment in translational medicine by the Department of Health and other major funders of medical research.
Dr Thomson, a Science City board member, said the city’s large and diverse patient population gave a substantial advantage to research conducted there. The capacity to harvest this resource though biobanking and genetic studies, together with excellence in fields such as imaging meant it was well placed to provide national research leadership.
Jim Taylor, a Science City project team member, told the seminar, which was co-sponsored by city law firm Berryman and Blueprint, that the city was developing a growing offer to the science community. This included Blueprint’s No.1 Nottingham Science Park, which has transformed a contaminated former landfill site into a place for growing science businesses and an attractive public park.
Peter Rose, of specialist medical device consultancy High Edge, explained routes to CE marketing for medical device manufacturers.
No.1 Nottingham Science Park, the focal point of a £50 million, 12-acre extension to Nottingham’s existing Science Park by Blueprint, sets new standards for design and environmentally sustainable development. John Long, Blueprint development director, gave delegates a tour of No 1 Nottingham Science Park as an example of the visionary space that will complement Nottingham’s academic and research pedigree as it ‘competes for brains’ in the wider UK and internationally. “The value of great design and ground-breaking sustainability in the properties we provide for our science sector can’t be underestimated in helping to attract and retain the best people, talent and companies in Nottingham,” he said.
The building will significantly reduce operational costs for occupiers and, it is estimated, reduce carbon emissions by around 60% compared with conventional office buildings.
No.1 Nottingham Science Park offers space from 1,500 sq ft to 42,000 sq ft for knowledge-based technology businesses and is currently available to occupy, with terms being flexible to suit the needs of the specialist technology market.
Blueprint has worked with a range of partners on No.1 Nottingham Science Park - including emda, Nottingham City Council and Greater Nottingham Partnership, and the project was part financed by the European Regional Development Fund. The boardwalk was part financed by emda as public realm.
