Science begins in the new Francis Crick Institute building

The first scientists have moved into the new £650 million Francis Crick Institute building in London and are starting work in their purpose-built labs. Next to St Pancras station and the British Library, the Crick will be the biggest biomedical research institute under one roof in Europe. Leading UCL researchers are among the first to move in, including Professor Nicholas Luscombe (UCL Genetics Institute) and Professor Jernej Ule (UCL Institute of Neurology). The Crick has been established through the collaboration of six founding partners: the Medical Research Council (MRC), Cancer Research UK (CRUK), Wellcome, UCL, Imperial College London and King's College London. Professor Michael Arthur, President and Provost of UCL, said: 'The Francis Crick Institute is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the life and biomedical sciences. Our commitment builds on UCL's role as one of Europe's largest and most successful centres for biomedical research and we are confident it will expand and enhance our already pioneering research. Having the Crick on our doorstep gives us the opportunity to form a world-class biomedical cluster for innovation and excellence in the heart of London.