New Institute of Genetics and Cancer research facilities

Building works have completed at the Western General Hospital campus and the new building has been handed over to the Institute of Genetics and Cancer (IGC), with users moving into the space in early May.

The project, supported by a joint investment by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the University of Edinburgh, is a 5-storey building which connects to the existing IGC East Building and IGC North Building.

The new space extends the existing building which was completed in 2015 and connects the three founding centres of the Institute. The IGC Mission is to turn genetic, genomic and biological data into knowledge, providing the framework for mechanistic insights needed to form the foundations of future medical advances, with a focus on genetic diseases and cancer.  

The extension hosts research groups using advanced cellular and animal models of human genetic disease and cancer including skin, liver and colorectal cancer. The building also provides specialist facilities that allow the function of individual cells, tissues and organisms to be investigated in extraordinary detail, generating complex data that will be analysed using advanced computational methods.  

The completed building houses a range of specialist laboratories, write-up and office spaces, and breakout and collaboration spaces, as well as an improved bicycle store for staff and students to use.

A formal opening of the building will take place in October.

The project was designed by Oberlanders Architects and contracted to Robertson Construction Central East. With Turner & Townsend as Contract Administrator, KJ Tait as M&E Engineers, Goodson Associates as Structural & Civil Engineers, and Armour Construction Consultants as Cost consultants.