Scientific Partners to progress Opportunities in Rooftop Lab

A specialised life sciences laboratory for accommodation of scientific partners is to be built on the roof space of The Francis Crick Institute. Construction on the 11,800 square foot space will commence this spring and scientists from MSD (Merck & Co, USA), the first occupants to sign under a 3-year lease, are expected to move into the lab as early as April 2024.

As part of the Crick’s strategy to maximise the exploitation of knowledge for societal benefit and the wider UK economy, Skylab will enable researchers to seek strategic partnership opportunities, working with organisations with complementary capabilities, including industrial partners, while also increasing the permeability of Crick science to the outside world.

Industry partners bring complementary expertise, experience and resources to address scientific problems or challenges brought forward by Crick researchers. For example, MSD and Crick scientists are working together to understand age-related diseases, including the onset of neurodegeneration, by building models of Parkinson’s disease using advanced stem cell technologies.

Speaking on his recent visit to the Crick, Dr Dean Li, President of MSD Research Labs, commented: “Our talented team of London based scientists is an important and growing part of our discovery network. We are pleased to collaborate with the Francis Crick Institute which provides an active and vibrant setting for life science research.”

Paul Nurse, director of the Crick, said: “Our mission is discovery without boundaries, and partnerships are a critical foundation to achieve this. Our work with MSD to date has proven to be extremely productive as we build on shared goals for understanding specific aspects of health and disease.

“We are thrilled to be welcoming in more researchers with different expertise and perspectives, to further the Crick’s commitment to translating science for societal benefit and economic growth.”

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