The University of Glasgow’s pioneering work in Precision Medicine has been hailed by the new Scottish Government Innovation Minister Ivan McKee as playing a key role in developing Scotland’s profile internationally – while contributing to inclusive economic growth at home. 

Ivan McKee

On a visit to the University, joined by the President of the United States National Academy of Medicine Victor Dzau, the new Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation was given a tour of the University’s state of the art facilities at the QEUH.  This included the Clinical Innovation Zone, 7T MRI scanner and hearing from the Head of the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak about the economic potential of the Precision Medicine agenda. 

The work being undertaken at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital has been recognised internationally – with Professor Dzau paying tribute to the world leading position Scotland currently enjoys in Precision Medicine.

On his visit to the University, Mr McKee also met with the Principal, Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, to hear more about the University’s innovation strategy and £1bn campus development programme which is currently underway. 

Ivan McKee, Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation, said: “The Imaging Centre of Excellence at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital is an international leader in personalised medicine.  The pioneering work done here contributes to Scotland’s international profile as well as supporting high quality jobs in the city.

“The scope of the Campus development plans are also of a scale that they could raise the profile of the whole country, and I look forward to working with University of Glasgow and other partners on how we can make that happen.”

Victor Dzau, President of the United States National Academy of Medicine, said: “I am very excited about the potential for Precision Medicine in Scotland – a country which is very well positioned in the field due to its high-quality levels of data and a single healthcare system in the NHS which can examine patients over the long-term.  This integrated with the state of the art technology at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the ability to bring together academia and industry in the Clinical Innovation Zone is incredibly exciting.

“When looking at major success stories elsewhere – for example in Silicon Valley – what we see is the need for access to physicians and patients, as well as academic and industry talent and innovation.  What I’ve seen here today confirms that the cluster at the QEUH has the potential to have all those things – and we can expect to see improvements in health, major savings for the healthcare system and further potential for commercialisation.”

Professor Dame Anna Dominiczak, Vice Principal and Head of the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, said: “I was delighted to welcome the new Minister to the University and to highlight some of the world leading work being undertaken here – with the potential to improve outcomes for patients, save millions of pounds for the NHS and make a real contribution to inclusive economic growth and job creation.

“The collaborations at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital  between academia, industry and the NHS are the perfect example of the approach we need to take to ensure Scotland can capitalise on our current position in Precision Medicine and continue to lead the world in this emerging industry – and I look forward to working with the new Minister to ensure we continue to see real economic benefit for the whole of Scotland from this exciting new field.”

First published: 18 July 2018

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