Building the future of medical research
Posted on 17 July 2009
The £5m new home for the Centre for Immunology and Infection will help researchers learn more about infectious diseases, translate scientific discoveries into new treatments and conduct clinical trials.
Planning permission for the building was granted in March and GB Building Solutions has been awarded the contract for the construction work which should be completed by May 2010.
This new building will further enhance our work developing new drugs and vaccines to combat globally important diseases
Professor Paul Kaye
Professor Brian Cantor, Vice-Chancellor of the University of York, will be joined by university staff and representatives from the construction team for a ceremony to formally mark the start of the project.
Professor Paul Kaye, the Centre’s Director, said: “The University is already at the forefront of research into immunology and infectious diseases. This new building will further enhance our work developing new drugs and vaccines to combat globally important diseases.
“It will also expand the range of training available to graduates of the Hull York Medical School and so support efforts to retain locally-trained doctors in the area.”
The Higher Education Funding Council for England is supporting the project with more than £3m. The Wolfson Foundation is donating £700,000 towards construction costs and a further £300,000 for equipment while The Holbeck Charitable Trust is providing £1m for technical equipment and new staff appointments.
Martin Smout, chairman and chief executive of GB Building Solutions, said: “The University of York’s vision for this new building together with GB Building Solutions’ specialist expertise in building laboratories for universities will result in facilities which will not only make a difference to the University but potentially for thousands of people around the world who will benefit from the research carried out here.”
Notes to editors:
Photo opportunity: Photographers are welcome to attend the groundbreaking ceremony which will take place at 12 noon on Monday 20 July. The building site is on Car Park G on Wentworth Way.
The Centre for Immunology and Infection is a joint research centre created by the Hull York Medical School and the University of York’s Department of Biology. Find out more at: www.york.ac.uk/res/cii/index.shtml.