Panthera’s new centre at the Health Innovation Hub will give more people across Glasgow and the west of Scotland opportunities to take part in research into potential new treatments.
Panthera, the UK’s largest independent clinical trial Site Management Organisation, has celebrated the official opening of its expanded Glasgow Clinical Research Centre at the Health Innovation Hub, Glasgow’s newest purpose-built life sciences laboratory facility developed and operated by Kadans Science Partner.
The opening event, held on Thursday 22nd October, brought together representatives from healthcare, clinical research, academia, government and industry, with Dr Zubir Ahmed MP, Member of Parliament for Glasgow South West, attending as Guest of Honour.
Dr Ahmed spoke about the importance of clinical trial facilities in keeping Scotland at the forefront of medical research. Guests then toured the new centre and met members of the Panthera team, who explained how its work supports the development of new medicines and creates opportunities for local patients to take part in clinical trials.
Panthera relocated its Glasgow operations from the Clinical Innovation Zone at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital earlier this year. The new purpose-built centre, at Health Innovation Hub, has eight dedicated clinical rooms, laboratory facilities and modern office space, increasing its capacity to run studies on behalf of leading pharmaceutical companies and clinical research organisations.
The larger centre will enable more people across Glasgow and the surrounding region to participate in research, with opportunities to receive potential new treatments before they become widely available.
For patients considering taking part, medicines entering Phase II and Phase III trials have already undergone earlier testing to assess safety and identify potential side effects. These later-stage studies build on that evidence, helping researchers understand how well treatments work and continuing to assess their performance in larger groups of patients. Participants are closely monitored throughout, and are able to ask about other medical conditions on their visits to the clinic.
Dr Zubir Ahmed MP, Member of Parliament for Glasgow South West, said:
“It was a pleasure to join Panthera to celebrate the opening of its expanded clinical research centre in Glasgow South West.
“I have first-hand experience of Glasgow’s proud history of medical innovation. Investment in facilities like this helps ensure our city remains at the forefront of developing new treatments and improving healthcare”
“Clinical research has the potential to make a real difference to people’s lives, and it is particularly encouraging to see opportunities for patients in our local communities to participate in trials that could help shape the future of medicine.
“I welcome Panthera’s continued investment in Glasgow and the contribution this facility will make to our city’s growing life sciences sector.”
Stuart Young, CEO of Panthera, commented:
“We are delighted to celebrate the official opening of our expanded Glasgow centre alongside colleagues and partners from across Scotland’s healthcare and life sciences community.
“Glasgow has an outstanding reputation for medical research and innovation, and this investment reflects our confidence in the city’s potential to play an increasingly important role in clinical trials.
“Our priority is to make clinical research more accessible to patients while giving our research partners the facilities and expertise they need to develop potential new treatments. This new centre is an important step towards that ambition.”
The Glasgow centre is based within the Health Innovation Hub, a purpose-built life sciences facility developed and operated by Kadans Science Partner in collaboration with the Living Laboratory for Precision Medicine, a University of Glasgow-led programme.
The Health Innovation Hub brings together organisations working across healthcare, research and innovation, encouraging collaboration and strengthening Glasgow’s position as a leading centre for life sciences.
Katie Nelson, Head of Leasing (UK) for Kadans Science Partner, said: “Panthera’s expanded Glasgow centre is a great example of how specialist facilities can support the growth of Scotland’s life sciences sector while delivering real benefits for local communities.
“At Kadans, we’re proud to provide an environment where organisations like Panthera can expand their work, collaborate with partners and help make clinical research more accessible to patients. The Health Innovation Hub brings together expertise across healthcare, research and industry, creating the conditions for innovation to thrive.
“Panthera’s further investment is a positive step for Glasgow, strengthening the city’s clinical research capabilities and reinforcing its reputation as a leading destination for life sciences.”
The expanded Glasgow facility forms part of Panthera’s growing network of dedicated clinical research centres across the UK, with the company also expanding into Europe.
Through continued investment in its centres and teams, Panthera aims to help more patients take part in clinical trials and support the development of new treatments for a range of medical conditions.