A NEW £32million centre which will carry out world-leading research into new treatments for diseases including cancer will be officially opened tomorrow in Glasgow.

The University of Glasgow will officially open its Imaging Centre of Excellence (ICE), which will bring almost 400 jobs to the city over several years and is expected to generate around £88million for the city’s economy.

The centre will have a focus on precision medicine, an emerging approach for disease treatment and prevention that takes into account individual variability in genes, environment, and lifestyle for each person.

The facility is already home to Scotland’s first 7 Tesla MRI scanner, the first of its kind in the UK which gives doctors some of the most detailed images of the body available to date.

There will also be a floor with four new neuro operating theatres for patients with brain injuries, which has been funded by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

The building will also house the Clinical Innovation Zone, a space dedicated to biomedical companies which has already attracted interest from Germany and Singapore.

Robert Calderwood, Chief Executive of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “The opening of this new building is a further step in the collaboration between the NHS and the University of Glasgow to provide world-leading research and cutting edge technology which will benefits patients across Scotland and beyond.

“The Imaging Centre of Excellence has provided us (NHSGGC) the opportunity to develop four state of the art theatres with full ancillary accommodation which will be utilised by the Department of Neurosurgery and Oral Maxillofacial Surgery.

“It will also provide the most advanced imaging facilities in the world on the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus.”

The facility was built in collaboration with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) and with £16m funding from the Medical Research Council and Glasgow City Region City Deal.

Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak, Vice Principal and head of the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, said: “The ICE isn’t about ivory tower research, it is about bringing world-leading clinical academics together with industry to collaborate and to create something that not only positively benefits patients but also brings a meaningful economic benefit as well.”

The opening event will also be attended by Sadie Docherty, Lord Provost of Glasgow, and Frank McAveety, leader of Glasgow City Council.

Councillor Frank McAveety, Leader of Glasgow City Council and chairman of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet, said: “Glasgow is one of the world’s most innovative cities – with both a proud history and a bright future in life sciences and new technologies.”