21 April 2009

First Minister opens latest landmark on Scotland's intellectual frontier

Press/photocall - 1.15pm, TMRC Laboratory, James Arrott Drive, Ninewells.
First Minister Alex Salmond will tour the laboratory and perform the official opening

First Minister Alex Salmond today officially opened the Translational Medicine Research Collaboration’s (TMRC) new core research laboratory in Dundee. The new £11.6 million facility will provide a centre of excellence for medical and scientific research.

The TMRC is a collaboration involving four of Scotland’s leading universities (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow), their corresponding health boards, Scottish Enterprise and global pharmaceutical company Wyeth. The partnership aims to raise the commercial profile of Scotland’s translational research in five main therapeutic areas: cardiovascular, women’s health, neurology, oncology and inflammation.

Already the work of the partnership has created more than 100 high value jobs across the universities, NHS and at the core laboratory. The new purpose built laboratory at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee has the capacity to accommodate up to 120 staff, as opposed to 35 in its previous location.

First Minister Alex Salmond said:

'The presence of the TMRC in Scotland is a growing testament to Scotland’s world-class reputation in medical and scientific research. This new research laboratory will be a valuable resource in its ongoing efforts to lead the way in translational medicine.'

'This expansion is great news for Scottish healthcare and our growing portfolio of intellectual property. At a time of global economic uncertainty these are vital assets and every step in their progress during the current downturn could protect a job or support a breakthrough.'

'The Scottish Government is determined to help stimulate innovation and job creation. That’s why I’m delighted to open this new facility, which will help to deliver the advances that will put Scotland at the forefront of the next generation of treatments and medicines.'

'Already Scotland is recognised as an intellectual frontier, with the country now home to some 600 organisations working in life sciences. Only last month I was in Aberdeen to open the state-of-the-art Wyeth facility based in the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on the University of Aberdeen campus. Clearly Scotland’s life-sciences sector is thriving and the Scottish Government will do all it can to support its continued success.'

'The TMRC is an exciting and unique partnership that pulls together NHS research experience, the world-class achievements of Scotland’s universities, and the expertise of a prominent business. These elements, combined with state-of-the art facilities, are certain to give Scotland the advantage of a world-leading clinical research platform.'

Professor Peter Downes, Acting Principal, University of Dundee, said:

'The TMRC’s new Core Research Laboratory will provide a vital central research facility for its clinical and scientific research groups throughout Scotland. It will provide a world-class facility for the development and validation of biomarkers of disease which can be used to accelerate the discovery of experimental medicines by bridging a critical gap between preclinical and clinical studies.'

Menelas Pangalos, Ph.D, Executive Vice President, Discovery Research, Wyeth Research, said:

'As one of the world's leading research-driven pharmaceutical companies, Wyeth is delighted to be a core participant in the TMRC. We hope this collaborative initiative will play a vital role in delivering healthcare advances that really meet the needs of patients and the healthcare providers who care for them.'

Jack Perry, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, said:

'The TMRC is a great example of the harnessing of Scotland’s capabilities to deliver world class research. The opening of the new Core Research Laboratory will further enhance the TMRC’s capabilities as a centre of excellence in life sciences and the development of personalised medicine to treat a wide range of serious illnesses. Scotland will benefit not just in terms of new treatments for patients but also in terms of new commercial opportunities for Scottish life sciences companies.'

NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS

1. The TMRC was founded in April 2006 and is a £58 million deal funded by Scottish Enterprise, the four participating universities, NHS Grampian, NHS Lothian, NHS Edinburgh, NHS Glasgow and Wyeth.
2. Translational medicine is a revolutionary approach to developing new drugs and treatments which focuses research on new tests for diagnosing and monitoring disease. These new tests - called biomarkers - measure proteins and other markers in blood samples or on x-rays to follow patients’ response to treatment.
3. The TMRC has so far resulted in 67 ongoing translational medicine research projects worth over £23 million. These are delivered across the partner institutions and the core TMRC laboratory in Dundee.
4. The Scottish Government has provided support for the TMRC - £17.5 million in grant funding to support research and development. Wyeth is providing £33 million over five years to support the collaboration.

Contact:
Scottish Government - Emma Shea 0131 244 3054 / 0771 7715 225

University of Dundee - Roddy Isles 01382 384910 / 07800 581902

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk