Reimagining the future of R&D: Introducing The Discovery Centre in Cambridge

Yesterday marked a momentous occasion with the official unveiling of The Discovery Centre (DISC) in Cambridge, UK. I congratulate each and every one of the committed and dedicated teams who have brought this amazing facility to life, where we will turn science into medicine.

The potential of the state-of-the-art facility to reimagine the future of R&D is built on our strong foundation of scientific breakthroughs that transform patient care. Here, our talented scientists will work together to enhance our understanding of disease biology, design the next generation of therapeutics, and pioneer new approaches to drive success in the clinic. Known as The DISC, the facility is designed with collaboration at its core and through our partnerships in Cambridge and around the world, working with some of the brightest scientific minds, we will tackle some of the biggest healthcare challenges. Together, we will push the boundaries of science in pursuit of our ambition to not only treat, but to prevent and one day cure, some of the most complex chronic diseases, helping people live their lives without limits.?

The location of The DISC within the Cambridge Biomedical Campus (CBC) is far from coincidental. The building’s position is crucial to advancing interactions between our scientists and the surrounding scientific and medical community. Our vision is to create a porous environment where ideas and talent can be shared to drive innovation. Across the Cambridge life sciences cluster we will continue to build on our over 200 scientific collaborations and partnerships with teams from across academia, biotech and industry.

The DISC is constructed in accordance with our commitment to keep our science and business sustainable. This means protecting the environment in the way that we operate our laboratories and discover, develop and deliver medicines. We have focused on increasing energy efficiency and are proud that the new R&D facility follows the design principles of the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for high performing buildings. As a result, our sustainable design features are expected to reduce heating and lighting consumption by over 40% compared to a typical building. From day one our scientists in Cambridge will be working in an operationally carbon neutral building – a first for us, and an ambition for our other R&D centres across the world.

I am extremely excited about our promising future and what The DISC can bring to healthcare and to wider society. Our scientists will start occupying the new labs from mid-2022, carrying out cutting-edge research that supports our Growth Through Innovation strategy. Our science will be on display, visible behind the glass, demonstrating our commitment to openness and transparency. We’ll bring the best talent in Cambridge under one roof, with shared energy and enthusiasm plus open doors and minds, to make the greatest and swiftest impact on disease.?