Funding for a new world-class biomedical research laboratory confirmed

The Government has just announced funding of £67 million towards a striking £200 million building, designed by RMJM Architects for the Medical Research Council (MRC).

The University of Cambridge will contribute up to £10 million, which includes £7.5 million to lease space for 40 research workers and a substantial commitment by the Wolfson Foundation to cover the fitting out and equipping of the University space.

Discoveries and inventions developed at the LMB, such as DNA sequencing and methods to determine the structure of proteins, have revolutionised all areas of biology. The institute's scientists have won a total of 13 Nobel prizes.

The new site will enable world class researchers at the LMB and at the University's Clinical School and Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to establish new links to work together in translating basic fundamental research.

Professor Patrick Sissons, Regius Professor of Physic at the University of Cambridge at the Clinical School said: "We greatly value our existing research collaborations with colleagues in LMB, and are all delighted with this news. We look forward to the new opportunities for working together on important medical problems which the rebuilt laboratories will allow."

Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, the MRC Chief Executive said: "The Laboratory of Molecular Biology has an outstanding track record as an innovator in medical research. The new building will allow the MRC to build on the LMB's position as a globally competitive research centre and continue to attract the best researchers."

Dr Hugh Pelham, Director of the LMB, said: "The new LMB building has a stunning design and will provide a globally competitive research centre with state of the art facilities for making the discoveries of the 21st Century. In addition, we will now be able to expand our research on the molecular biology of the brain and to build up activities that help to turn discoveries into medicine."

The Cambridge Biomedical Campus brings together the Trust, the University of Cambridge Clinical School and the MRC, and other medical research charities including Cancer Research UK and the Wellcome Trust in supporting research-led clinical care.

The Campus provides exciting opportunities for expansion in new clinical services and research activities. Collectively this will put Cambridge at the forefront of initiatives to integrate prevention and treatment of disease with the development of new therapies and diagnostic techniques of the future.