MRC and Wellcome Trust invest £24m in Cambridge obesity institute

This joint initiative from the MRC and Wellcome Trust will provide exciting new opportunities to better understand the fundamental causes of disease such as obesity and diabetes and translate that knowledge into improved therapies - Professor Stephen O'Rahilly The Medical Research Council (MRC) and Wellcome Trust are to invest £24m into obesity research led by the Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science (IMS). The IMS, based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, will investigate the causes and health consequences of obesity and develop new approaches to prevent and treat metabolic diseases, such as diabetes. The IMS is a joint venture between the MRC, Wellcome Trust, University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Co-directed by Professors Steve O'Rahilly and Nick Wareham, it provides a unique environment linking basic and applied science in metabolic diseases. The Institute houses not only state-of-the-art facilities for laboratory science, clinical and population research, but also purpose-built clinics providing out-patient care for children and adults with metabolic and endocrine disorders. This close link to patients ensures that advances in basic science can be applied rapidly to improving patient care and disease prevention. The IMS is also close to the largest concentration of biotechnology companies in Europe, creating excellent opportunities for industrial collaboration.