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The University of Southampton's campaign to build a pioneering new research centre has received significant support from the Channel Islands.
The Institute for Medical Innovation (IMI) will focus on five major disease areas - cancer, dementia, sight loss, infection, and respiratory and allergic conditions - united by the common thread of a misfiring immune system and an urgent need for more research.
The new facility will bring together the greatest minds in medicine, computer science and engineering under one roof to use the latest advances in AI, genomics and tissue analysis to accelerate the development of new treatments and enable earlier diagnosis.
The £100m project is backed by a £50m commitment from the university, with the remaining £50m to be raised through its largest ever fundraising campaign.
Jersey couple James and Mindy Vernon have donated £1m to fund the Digital Collaboration Hub in the IMI, which will house high-performance computers and bioinformatics software and specialists centralising medical data from across the University and hospital in a secure research space.
A significant anonymous donation from the estate of two Guernsey residents has also been given to the campaign.
Thanks to early philanthropic support, including the two generous gifts, the University has already secured £11m in gifts. Together with the university's investment, this brings the project to £61m towards its £100m target.
Director of the IMI, Professor Paul Elkington, said : "We are delighted and extremely grateful to receive these incredibly generous donations. The IMI will get life-changing treatments to patients faster. We know families are waiting and, while technology is advancing at pace, medical science must keep up.
"Southampton is perfectly placed to make this happen. Working side by side and using the latest technologies, we will accelerate discovery from lab to patients. The result will be smarter drugs, innovative devices, and kinder treatments for cancer, dementia, and other devastating diseases - reaching patients in years, not decades. This gift is a clear vote of confidence in our vision for the IMI."
James Vernon said: "The University of Southampton is at the heart of research that touches the lives of so many people. It also holds a special place for Jersey too, as countless islanders depend on Southampton's specialist medical services. This new centre represents a remarkable chance to go further than ever before, deepen these vital connections and create better outcomes for patients."
Thousands of residents from the Channel Islands rely on Southampton for specialist care. In 2024/25 alone, more than 7,000 referrals from Jersey, and 10,000 from Guernsey were made to Southampton, with a significant number being referred for cancer.
The IMI will be set in the heart of Southampton General Hospital, next to the Centre for Cancer Immunology, a world-leading research facility, and be fully operational by 2030.
More details about the IMI and how you can support the campaign can be found here or contact [email protected]
