12 May 1999

Photo opportunity: Thursday 13 May at 2.30pm at the new Tayside Institute of Child Health on level 4 Ninewells when the contractors will hand over the keys.

Delivery of TICH - first researchers move in

The first phase in the creation of a new dedicated children's hospital in Dundee - Tayside Institute of Child Health - will be officially completed tomorrow (Thursday) when the driving force behind it, Head of the University of Dundee's Department of Child Health Professor Richard Olver accepts the keys from contractors Hall & Tawse.

Affectionately known as TICH, the new £2.3 million institute will house five huge new open plan research laboratories, reading room, offices and seminar room along with all the back up facilities these require in a space of some 1200 square metres. The institute is integrated with the existing children's wards at Ninewells Hospital and will also link with the nearby special care baby unit, itself currently the subject of a £1 million refurbishment. With space at a premium, architects Boswell Mitchell and Johnston have risen to the challenge, blending new with old and transforming a former courtyard to create a stylish new play centre for sick children and adolescents.

Work will soon begin on the second phase which includes day care and outpatient facilities, nursing areas, reception rooms and overnight accommodation for parents as well as a new approach road, dedicated entrance and car park. The entire project is expected to cost a total £5.5 million after phase two is complete.

Professor Richard Olver, the driving force behind the project said : "Today has all the excitement, and relief, of the delivery of a newborn baby. TICH was first conceived in 1995. The gestation has not been without its complications but at last we are able to see the results. This will be a great boost to children's health care and research in Tayside.

"The concept behind it is to bring the research closer to the patients thereby improving the flow of information in both directions and allowing discoveries to be more quickly translated into improvements in clinical care."

Biomedical researchers within TICH share a common interest in development but specialise in a range of fields including cot death, thyroid disease, asthma and cystic fibrosis. The first biomedical researchers will be moving into laboratories this week. The team leaders are Professor Richard Olver, Dr Anil Mehta, Dr Stephen Land, Dr Stuart Wilson, Dr Ann Burchell, Professor Rob Hume and Dr Somnath Mukhopadhyay./ends