![[header image]](/medicine/Images/File,33664,en.jpg "School of Medicine")
Research at the College of Medicine is housed in its purpose-built research facility
Institute of Life Science
The Institute of Life Science (ILS) is Wales’ premier purpose-built medical research facility. It is a collaboration between Swansea University and the Welsh Government, together with Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University (ABMU) Health Board, IBM and industry and business partners. Partly funded through the European Union Convergence Funding Programme, it is the single largest investment ever made by the Welsh Government on any university campus.
The vision for the ILS is to advance medical science through multi- and interdisciplinary research and innovation for the benefit of human health, and to link those benefits to the economy by encouraging interaction with other organisations in a spirit of Open Innovation.
The first phase of that vision – valued at £52 million – delivered a state-of-the-art building housing over 200 professional specialists in medical research, business incubation and technology transfer. The second phase of the vision – which received £28.8 million funding – boasts a further 6000 square metres of facilities including a clinical research facility, an imaging suite provided in conjunction with Siemens Healthcare, further business incubation and healthcare research as well as the Centre for NanoHealth.
Since opening in 2007, the ILS has encouraged the development of a life science cluster in the region and business is thriving. Client Organisations include Boots Centre for Innovation, Calon Cardio-Technology Ltd, Cal2Cal Europe Ltd, CyDen Ltd, Cell Therapy Ltd, Haemair Ltd, Maimonidex (UK) Ltd, Pulse Medical Technologies and Pulse Innovate. The ILS is also proud to welcome to this cluster a family of more than 30 Affiliate Members, comprising companies and individuals that benefit from ILS expertise and facilities.
Unique facilities at the ILS include the EPSRC National Mass Spectrometry Service Centre, the Health Informatics Research Laboratories, the NHS Wales Research Informatics Laboratories and Blue C – the IBM-built supercomputer dedicated to life science research. Visit the ILS website to find out more
