New multi-million pound research hub for infection and immunity

Work is underway to create the first phase of a multi-million pound research centre which aims to give patients quicker access to the latest innovative therapies for a range of diseases. The Institute of Immunity, Infection and Transplantation, a partnership development between UCL and the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, will see world-leading research and clinical trials being brought together in a purpose-designed centre at the Royal Free Hospital. The research taking place concentrates on developing vaccinations, gene therapy and cell therapy to target cancer, chronic infections (such as HIV, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis), auto-immune diseases (including diabetes, scleroderma and inflammatory bowel disease) and rare diseases such as immunodeficiency, haemophilia and amyloidosis, as well as new types of transplantation. Margaret Johnson, clinical director for HIV/AIDS services at the Royal Free and professor of HIV medicine at UCL, said: "The vision for the institute is to facilitate and advance 'bench to bedside' translational research - essentially translating research into practice. This means that through clinical trials, patients will have access to the latest innovative treatments developed by our on-site researchers which are not yet available anywhere else, instead of having to wait until they become mainstream treatments. The Institute of Immunity, Infection and Transplantation will be a hub for experimental medicine, transforming novel research concepts into new diagnostic tools and therapies for patients.