A groundbreaking new medical institute in Southampton will bring the greatest minds in medicine, computer science and engineering together in one brand new building.
The pioneering Institute for Medical Innovation (IMI) will be a joint initiative between the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.
Based at Southampton General Hospital, the £100m facility will bring researchers and medics together in the fight against devastating diseases such as cancer, dementia, sight loss, infectious diseases and respiratory and allergic conditions.
Underpinned by investment from the University and a significant fundraising campaign to be launched in the next year, the state-of-the-art centre will train the next generation of medical researchers, equipping them with the tools and technology needed to deliver life-changing medical outcomes.
Designs are being worked on ahead of the start of any formal planning process, with the IMI earmarked for construction on the site of two existing buildings at the hospital.
University of Southampton Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark E. Smith, said: "At the IMI we will be able to make bigger and faster breakthroughs than ever before.
"Bringing our world-leading researchers across disciplines such as engineering, computer science and medical professions together - while giving them access to the best technology and data at their fingertips - will provide a beacon of hope.
"The IMI will put Southampton at the heart of medical discovery."
Chief executive at University Hospital Southampton, David French, said: "We have a long and successful partnership with the University of Southampton, bringing the worlds of research and medical innovation closer together to the benefit of our patients.
"This new initiative will further strengthen that bond by attracting the brightest minds and pioneering discovery to our city to help further our understanding and treatment of life-limiting conditions."
The IMI will be embedded in the clinical environment, adjacent to the University's world-leading Centre for Cancer Immunology research hub, providing researchers with unrivalled access to patients, samples and medical teams.
