Scientific centre at the heart of groundbreaking work

Nov 11 2009 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

Where once our export routes were forged by the kings of heavy industry, it is now North East scientists who may hold the key to our future international success. Andrew Mernin finds out how the life sciences sector is going global.

City incubator

THE Centre for Life, in Newcastle, is a colourful symbol of the North East’s emergence as a life sciences hotbed which has moved rapidly since the 1990s.

Linda Conlon, the centre’s chief executive, believes the region’s global goals in the industry are well under way, although there remains a limited commercial sector.

She said: “International collaboration is the name of the game. There are 35 different nationalities employed on this site.

“Our mission is to promote the advantages of life sciences and we have bought together a very eclectic bunch of organisations and associations.

“Of the research money that comes into this region, 70% of it goes towards the promotion of life sciences.

“Of that I would say almost 75% goes to Newcastle University. Newcastle has been a birthplace for research into major areas of life sciences.

“The key is trying to get the science and research towards a clinical product and getting it from bench to bed as quickly as possible.”