Dolly creator hails science base as major research unit

The creator of Dolly The Sheep has spoken of the "huge potential" of a new scientific research base being created in the Capital.

Professor Sir Ian Wilmut said that Scottish Centre for Regenerative Medicine (SCRM) at the Edinburgh Bioquarter will host some significant scientific research. Around 250 researchers will be based in the building and will work on stem cell sciences and countering conditions like diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

Prof Wilmut, who is chair of Edinburgh University's SCRM, said: "The SCRM's location at Edinburgh's BioQuarter is ideal as we'll be next to a research hospital with a clinical trials unit, the University of Edinburgh's teaching and research facilities, basic research scientists and biotechnology companies. I think that's a unique combination with huge potential for translational research but also the use of stem cells in drug discovery and development work. It will be a unique resource in the UK."

The building brings together research teams of the Medical Research Council's Centre for Regenerative Medicine that were previously split between the Chancellor's Building, the Queen's Medical Research Centre and the Roget Land building on a science campus two miles away.

Dr Mike Capaldi, commercialisation director at the Edinburgh Bioquarter, said: "Given the huge strides being made in regenerative medicine at the moment, I can't think of a more significant development anywhere in the UK."