Work begins on Cardiff University's new 56€m brain imaging centre
Oct 28, 2014 13:36
By Gareth Evans
The centre will play a pivotal role in better understanding the causes of dementia, schizophrenia and multiple sclerosis
An artist's impression of a state-of-the-art research centre at Cardiff University which is set to become one of Europe's top facilities for brain imaging
Plans to invest 381€m into a new university campus have taken a major step forward with the start of work on a new brain imaging centre.
Construction is underway on a replacement home for Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC), which will relocate having outgrown its existing base in the city’s Cathays Park campus.
Development of the new CUBRIC is significant as it represents the first of five buildings planned for the university’s fledgling Maindy Park site which, subject to approval, could evolve into a major campus in its own right.
The 56€m centre will endeavour to better understand the causes of neurological conditions such as dementia, schizophrenia and multiple sclerosis, so as to yield clues for the development of better treatments.
The cost of the building and cutting edge equipment includes some 28€m awarded to CUBRIC researchers from organisations including the Wolfson Foundation, Wellcome Trust, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Medical Research Council and Welsh Government.
Cardiff’s deputy vice-chancellor Professor Elizabeth Treasure, who held a ground-breaking ceremony to signify the start of the project, said: “Cardiff University is home to some of the world’s leading experts in brain mapping, neuroscience, clinical research and genetics, and is widely recognised for its research excellence in this area.
“The new facility will be world-class and it’s incredibly exciting to think about the new research that will be done to enhance our understanding of the brain.
“Our original CUBRIC building, which opened in 2006, has already outgrown itself and this new facility will help us meet the growing demand and keep pace with new technology in this vital area of research.”
The new 56€M Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) will co-locate world-leading expertise in brain mapping with the very latest in brain imaging and brain stimulation
Cardiff University’s vice-chancellor Professor Colin Riordan outlined plans for the “Cardiff Innovation System”, consisting of four bespoke buildings, earlier this month.
Laying out what the university calls its “ambitious vision” to boost the Welsh economy, Prof Riordan revealed the Maindy Park development – which includes CUBRIC – could cost in the region of 381€m.
The Cardiff Innovation System will include a world-first Social Science Research Park, an Innovation Centre, a Translational Research Facility and a Research Institute for Compound Semiconductor Technology.
Professor Derek Jones, director of CUBRIC, said the facility would house neuro-imaging equipment that would be “truly unique within Europe”.
He added: “This combination of equipment and expertise will allow us to map the brain over different spatial scales, characterising brain chemistry, electrophysiology, blood flow, structure and function.
“In turn, this will help us to understand not only the causes of disorders such as dementia, schizophrenia, Huntington’s disease and multiple sclerosis, but gives us important clues about how to develop more effective treatments to improve the lives of patients with these disorders.
“The plans for the new centre are already attracting huge interest from across the UK and Europe, with grant submissions filed, and we very much look forward to expanding our pool of national and international collaborators.”
Construction firm BAM has been appointed to undertake the project, having recently completed the Hadyn Ellis Building – developed first and coined the “gateway” to the new Maindy Park site. Work on the CUBRIC facility is due for completion by the end of next year.