Pioneering biomedical research building reaches new milestone

The Sir Michael Uren Hub

Imperial celebrated the topping out of the Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering Research Hub, one of its flagship White City buildings.

Due to open next year, the building will bring together latest advances in medicine and engineering to improve the treatment and diagnosis of some of the world’s most pressing healthcare challenges.

It was made possible by by a £40 million gift from Sir Michael Uren and his foundation, the most generous gift in the College’s history.

Imperial's President, Professor Alice Gast said: “This celebration is a tribute to the power of excellence, hard work and vision. The Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering Research Hub is a game-changing facility that will help us rise to some of society’s greatest healthcare challenges. We will show what is possible when engineers, medics, policy-makers and the public collaborate on solutions to these problems.

“Our alumnus and friend Sir Michael Uren is a visionary philanthropist and we’re so grateful for his support. The work carried out in this building will enable people of all walks of life to live full and active lives. We will all be thanking him for decades to come.”

Collaboration

Sir Michael Uren, a 1943 Imperial graduate in Mechanical Engineering, was the founder of leading cement manufacturer Civil and Marine Ltd. He is one of the UK’s most generous philanthropists.

Representatives of the Michael Uren Foundation said: “It has given us great pleasure that [Sir Michael Uren’s] efforts in industry have been redirected so positively to the Imperial he attended now 75 years back. As the construction advances towards completion, the forum for collaboration and research opens.”

Pioneering advances

The Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering Research Hub will convene world-class engineers, scientists and clinicians to pioneer advances in new and affordable medical technology, helping people affected by a diverse range of medical conditions.

This includes new technologies for the early detection, monitoring and treatment of cancers; the development of minimally invasive implants; regenerative medicine and technology to aid recovery from nervous system injuries.

It will house a clinical facility side-by-side with multidisciplinary laboratories and offices for translational research initiatives, providing patients with access to the latest innovations in healthcare.

Last year the project was awarded £20m from the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF), a grant funding scheme managed by Research England