Institute for Regeneration and Repair

IRR Chemistry Hub

The IRR Chemistry Hub aims to magnify the impact of chemical and physical sciences in biomedicine and to accelerate the translation of molecules to humans.

The IRR Chemistry Hub is based in a custom-designed chemistry suite for 50 people in the new building of the IRR complex, which will accommodate over 1,000 staff and students. Embedded adjacent to the Centres for Regenerative Medicine, Inflammation Research, Reproductive Health and others, the IRR Chemistry Hub is perfectly positioned for collaborative non-siloed research with a core of chemistry investigators working closely and collaboratively with academics from a variety of disciplines.

Specific aims:

  • Align chemical and physical sciences expertise in biosensing, biomaterials and drug development with the clinical priorities of CMVM (see scheme below);
  • Increase the critical mass of chemists physically based at CMVM and train the next generation of scientists in a truly translational environment;
  • Maximise the impact and translation of discovery science through early engagement with industry and clinical investigations.

 

Infographic - From molecules to humans - hexagons with "biosensing" "biomaterials" "drug development" and arrows between

 

The IRR Chemistry Hub is physically located at the Edinburgh BioQuarter, where researchers from all themes (tissue repair, stem cells and regeneration, inflammation biology) co-work to facilitate synergies and share resources, equipment and know-how. The IRR Chemistry Hub aims to achieve high international visibility as one of the first global hubs of ‘Chemistry to Medicine’ based in the College of Medicine at Edinburgh. Supported by Edinburgh Innovations, the IRR Chemistry Hub has built an extensive portfolio of international collaborations with industrial and academic partners, including licenses, co-development projects and the formation of spin-out companies.

Case studies

Read more about some of the case studies and successes that have come out of the IRR Chemistry Hub.

IBDSENSE: A new technology for diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases

Developing a new technology to diagnose and monitor inflammatory bowel diseases

Drug repurposing for oesophageal cancer

Using imaging microscopy and phenotypic screening to identify drug repurposing and potential new drug discovery