UK’s first dedicated Centre for Cancer Immunology reaches development milestone

The University of Southampton’s Centre of Cancer Immunology has reached the final formation of the concrete frame.

The Centre, which is the first of its kind in the UK, will be located at Southampton General Hospital and house world-class research facilities, including a clinical trials unit, suite of molecular biology laboratories and a pre-clinical immunology lab investigating the complex interaction of cancer and the immune system. 

Professor Tim Elliott, Professor of Experimental Medicine for the University of Southampton and Director of the new Centre, marked the development milestone with representatives from University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust and Southampton City Council, at a special topping out ceremony.

Due to open in 2017, the Centre will host world-leading cancer immunology scientists, technicians and support staff to build on the progress already made in the field of cancer immunology.

The University launched a £25 million fundraising campaign to fund the Centre and has received generous support resulting in £19m of the target to be raised so far.

Professor Elliott commented: “Our new Centre will allow us to build on our expertise and expand the research teams in Southampton to make even greater progress in developing new treatments. The next few years will see great advances in immune therapies for cancer with the University of Southampton at the very forefront of discovery.”

The Centre is being delivered for the University of Southampton by contractor and developer Kier Construction Southern.

Trevor White, operations director for Kier Construction Southern, said: “This is a very exciting stage in the development of this ground breaking cancer research facility. We are incredibly proud to working with the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust on this revolutionary centre which will be at the forefront of developing new treatments in the UK.”

To find out more about the Centre visit www.southampton.ac.uk/youreit