Birmingham's innovative new Biohub officially opens

The doors to The BioHub Birmingham officially opened on Tuesday 24 March to unveil the first purpose-built facility of its kind in the UK.

The £7 million biomedical laboratory and innovation office based in Edgbaston’s Medical Quarter is set to bring a thriving concentration of biomedical entrepreneurs and start-up companies to the region, all looking for affordable space where they can research, complete proof of concept work and bring their innovative medical developments to market. The format of shared laboratory facilities with accompanying office space is based on the successful co-working concept of ‘plug-and-play’ biotech incubators that is emerging across the US.

To mark the opening of the venture, Professor Sir David Eastwood, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, spoke about the importance of The BioHub, stating that as part of “a core mission to translate the results of research and teaching into economic impact, the University of Birmingham has for many years been promoting and supporting entrepreneurship and enterprise activity by our students, staff and local business people.

“The opening of The BioHub is a significant milestone contributing to the growth of the life sciences sector in Birmingham and is a major new asset for the outstanding medical cluster here in Edgbaston, and the wider City region.”

Councillor Tahir Ali from Birmingham City Council reiterated how the new facility was good news for Birmingham and would build on its reputation as a UK leader in biomedical innovation.

“There’s a growing life science sector in the West Midlands, with over 850 science businesses in the region, a large medical school, and the city has a proven track record in clinical academic programmes and translational research. The BioHub is the latest project to spearhead the next step on linking innovators with medical experts and opportunities for clinical trials – all to better improve our healthcare. It’s putting Birmingham on a map internationally in a way that has never been done before.”

George Freeman MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Life Sciences sent a strong signal of support to The BioHub team and the broader Birmingham science cluster: “The truth is, that our life sciences in the UK goes further than the traditional ‘golden triangle’ of London, Oxford and Cambridge. The work going on at The BioHub is absolutely key to the success of our economy.

He continued: “The multi-disciplinary convergence is really changing the life sciences landscape and examples like The BioHub create great opportunities for people to work together.”

After the unveiling of a special plaque by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham to commemorate the launch of the facility, visitors were given a tour around the venue.

ENDS

For further information, please contact Helen Miller-Viney, Business Development Manager of The Biohub on 0121 414 9252.

• Photo caption: Dr James Wilkie, director of Birmingham Research park and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham Professor Sir David Eastwood at the Biohub opening.
• The BioHub aims to cement itself at the forefront of biomedical development and will create a hub of entrepreneurial activity in the city where individuals and businesses are pioneering and advancing the science industry
• The Edgbaston Medical Quarter is home to 64% of the city’s healthcare economy, including 180 medical organisations, 44 GP clinics and routine care facilities and 80 specialist care centres
• 4,500 sq.ft. central laboratory and specialist rooms including areas for Category 2 microbiology, freezer facility, down to -150°C, a microscopy lab, a wet room with specialist cleaning and sterilisation facilities and a cryogenic suite for housing liquid nitrogen.
• Use of laboratory equipment including fume cabinets/laminar flow hoods, microscopes, incubators, microplate readers & washes, autoclave and glass wash facilities, PCR Thermocycler, centrifuges, spectrophotometer, chromatography system, freeze dryer, is included for all tenants
• The Birmingham Biomedical Innovation Hub is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
• The BioHub is also jointly funded by the University of Birmingham and Birmingham City Council