UK’s second largest biobank eyes 1 million samples in first year
15 Jan 2023
BioGrad is set to open the country's second largest biobank facility within a £7.6 million investment for new headquarters at Liverpool’s Wavertree Technology Park.
BioGrad biobank has an estimated 261,000 samples from the biggest long-Covid study in the UK carried out in collaboration with Leicester University but aims to reach 1 million samples in its first year through partnerships with Liverpool Women’s Hospital and three private research companies.
CEO Dr Natalie Kenny (pictured left) said: “Our incredible new headquarters, which will house the second largest biobank facility in the UK, represents an exciting new era for BioGrad as we move into stem cell and regenerative medicine research, alongside our continued education operations”
She said the project demonstrated the company’s commitment to the levelling up agenda, creating new jobs and opportunities in the sector, and, supporting local, female-led businesses.
The 10,000 sq ft biobank building will be paired with the 33,000 sq ft BioGrad Innovation Centre that plans to take its energy usage off grid by 2024.
It will house laboratory-based learning provider for aspiring scientists BioGrad Education, which boasts more than 500 partner schools across Europe and is contracted to provide science and education for eight of the top ten schools in the UK, as well as the top 1% of schools in Europe.
Biobanking preserves human tissue for research or for human application. The BioGrad biobank scheme represents a strategic move from Covid operations towards stem cell and regenerative medicine research.
The site is BioGrad’s fifth location in the Liverpool City Region, with existing buildings in Liverpool Science Park, Bootle, Warrington and Liverpool John Lennon Airport, plus satellite sites in Oxford and London.
