January 19 2024

A health city at Edinburgh's BioQuarter has added a new feather to its bow with the completion of a £110m medical facility.

The Institute for Regenerative Repair (IRR) South for the University of Edinburgh will be called home by over 500 scientists engaged in developing new treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, lung cancer and women’s health issues.

Cutting edge research into inflammation, reproductive health and regenerative medicine, as well as a dedicated pandemic science hub, will be conducted behind its glass facade to obtain a better understanding of the shared biological processes behind these conditions. Open-plan laboratories will facilitate 'chemistry to medicine' research to fast-track findings into new treatments.

Professor Stuart Forbes, director of the University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Regeneration and Repair said, “IRR South is designed to allow modern science to flourish by fostering collaboration across different disciplines and providing space for cutting edge research technologies. This new facility will encourage joined-up working and help scientists develop treatments to benefit health more rapidly.”

Built over six years by Balfour Beatty and Stantec the IRR has been funded by the Medical Research Council and UK Research Partnership Investment Fund. 

7 Comments

#1 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 19 Jan 2024 at 12:14 PM

Looks good but where is the output -- usable medical / pharmaceutical advances that will have a major impact on the health of the general public?

The blurb about the new facility would appear to be a word salad of current corporate PR techno babble.

When the end product hits the shelves in Boots then we can judge the success of the investment.

At the moment it is hard to look beyond the middle class welfare angle specifically for those that want to look good in a lab coat.

Dolly is just so last century.

#2 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 19 Jan 2024 at 12:51 PM

Basic question ...

500 scientists to be located in this building -- who pays their wages?

And why are they located in Auld Reekie and not Livingston or Cumbernauld?

#3 Posted by Trampas on 19 Jan 2024 at 14:00 PM

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, there is an even more basic question - 'Looks good...' - Now just how and why is that so? I'd be genuinely interested to hear your semiotic/ aesthetic analysis of what exactly we are looking at here, boss...

#4 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 19 Jan 2024 at 14:20 PM

Design vibe -- catalogue quality bought by the linear metre.

Would look good on an office park in a New Town.

File under filler / phoned in filler.

#5 Posted by Trampas on 19 Jan 2024 at 15:34 PM

Exactly. Not got a scooby then, I see.

#6 Posted by Fat Bloke on Tour on 19 Jan 2024 at 21:43 PM

On reflection -- the paving looks quite good.
Small wins -- you have to take them when you can.

#7 Posted by Lovely on 20 Jan 2024 at 13:36 PM

Terrible on many levels.

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