Europe’s largest heart and lung research centre for Royal Papworth Hospital and University of Cambridge moves step closer
A new Cambridge research institute which aims to tackle the most common causes of premature death in the world has moved a step closer to completion.
The Heart and Lung Research Institute (HLRI) is a joint initiative between the University of Cambridge and Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
The building on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus was handed over by the constructors SDC on Monday (December 13).
The institute will create the largest centre for heart and lung research, education, academic-industrial collaboration, and clinical care in Europe.
It will focus on conditions such as the causes of heart attacks, acute lung injury and repair, cystic fibrosis, vascular dementia, atrial fibrillation and pulmonary hypertension.
Work on the site began in October 2019 and continued safely throughout the coronavirus pandemic due to SDC’s exemplary health and safety measures and commitment to the project.
Features of the building include a 10-bed clinical research facility, laboratory space and an underground tunnel linking the institute to Royal Papworth Hospital.
Professor Nick Morrell, HLRI director, said: “This is an incredible opportunity to bring together the University's expertise in cardiovascular and respiratory science and Royal Papworth Hospital's expertise in treating heart and lung disease.
“Heart and lung diseases affect many millions of people worldwide and the numbers are growing. Institutes such as ours, focused on these big health challenges, are urgently needed. The discoveries made by our researchers will deliver major benefits to the public through improvements in public health, new approaches to diagnosing and treating disease, and new medicines.”
One in every four deaths is caused by cardiovascular disease and one in five by respiratory disease in the UK. Despite a growing awareness of risk factors, such as smoking and poor diet, the prevalence of such diseases is increasing.
Cardiovascular disease causes nearly 18 million deaths per year, mostly due to heart attacks and stroke, with respiratory disease just behind according to the World Health Organization. The combined worldwide cost of this is more than £840billion each year.
Chairman of Royal Papworth Hospital professor John Wallwork added: “This will be a huge step forward and demonstrates one of the reasons we moved to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus – to collaborate with the best researchers in the world to help to save lives.
“HLRI will mean new treatments will be created, tested and delivered all on one site to tackle the biggest causes of premature death in the world. It will also allow us to provide further education and training to clinicians tackling heart and lung disease worldwide.
“This will be a huge step forward and demonstrates the power of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus – allowing the best researchers, scientists and clinicians in the world to collaborate to help save lives. “Through this, we will be able to make even quicker progress in bringing tomorrow's treatments to today’s patients.”
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Topping-out ceremony held for Heart and Lung Research Institute on Cambridge Biomedical Campus
