Charnwood's three-storey laboratory officially opens for over 150 scientists.
Leicestershire's Charnwood Molecular and Charnwood Campus have unveiled lab space which will significantly accelerate the clinical research organisation’s growth in global pharmaceutical and biotechnology markets.
Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Mike Kapur OBE, officially opened the world-class facilities during a recent visit.
Charnwood Molecular had previously moved into the three-storey laboratory facility on Charnwood Campus Science Innovation and Technology Park. It will house more than 150 scientists.
It addresses a national need for highly specialised bio-chemistry facilities that will drive life-saving medicinal discoveries of the future.
The project was supported by a £3.4million investment from the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) in partnership with Charnwood Borough Council (CBC).
Andy Reed OBE, Interim Chair of the LLEP Board, said: “Through effective use of local resources, such as those at Charnwood Campus, we are building a productive and innovative economy at the cutting edge of science, which will support the health of people around the world.
“By investing in projects such as Charnwood Molecular, we are helping to create high-quality jobs to add to the 900 already created on Charnwood Campus since its designation as an Enterprise Zone site.”
Funding was used towards recommissioning 57,000 sq ft of unused medicinal chemistry laboratory space on the campus, which forms part of the Loughborough and Leicester Science and Innovation Enterprise Zone.
Councillor Tom Barkley, Deputy Leader of Charnwood Borough Council, said: “I welcome this investment, as not only will it create jobs but it also adds to Charnwood’s growing reputation as being at the centre of innovation.
“It’s also another great example of how the Loughborough and Leicester Science and Innovation Enterprise Zone is helping to attract global businesses to the region.”
The new lab space provides a fully-integrated drug discovery solution for clients, with teams across all disciplines working together on one site.
Its market-leading laboratories have quadrupled Charnwood Molecular’s capacity and will support further expansion of the company’s services.
Charnwood Molecular was founded in 1998 as a chemistry spin-out from Loughborough University. It was acquired in 2019 by private equity group, Synova, in a deal providing additional investment to support continued growth.
Professor Steve Allin, founder and CEO of Charnwood Molecular, said: “The truly world-class facilities at Charnwood Campus provide us with a key piece in our strategic plan to become the provider of choice for integrated drug discovery and development services within the global life sciences sector.”
Charnwood Campus became the UK’s first Life Science Opportunity Zone (LSOZ) in 2017, a status which comes with a Government commitment to work with local partners on development.
It was designated an Enterprise Zone site in the same year, forming part of the Government’s wider Industrial Strategy to support businesses and enable local economic growth.
Written by Emily Miller
Emily is a Senior Journalist for Niche Magazine with over a decade of journalism experience. She enjoys going to gigs, visiting galleries and walking in all weathers.
