The University welcomed Professor Sir Mark Walport, Government Chief Scientific Adviser, to campus yesterday for the official opening of Phenome Centre Birmingham, a pioneering £8m life sciences facility designed to study metabolism in global human health and disease, based within the School of Biosciences in the College of Life and Environmental Sciences.

Professor Sir Mark officially opened the Centre and gave the keynote address at the associated scientific symposium on clinical metabolic phenotyping.

Professor Sir Mark Walport

Professor Sir Mark Walport

Sending a message of support, Life Sciences Minister George Freeman MP said: “This world leading centre will help enhance our understanding of diseases, and potentially allow NHS patients to have more targeted and personal treatment. It also confirms the West Midland’s status as a thriving medical sciences hub, which plays a vital role in supporting the UK’s £60 billion life sciences industry.”

See further information on the Phenome Centre opening

Later, Professor Sir Mark visited the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) site in Norbury, Staffordshire, where he toured the Free Atmosphere Carbon Enrichment (FACE) Facility, one of only three such facilities in the world, focused on addressing the impact of climate and environmental change on woodlands. 

Professor Sir Mark Walport visiting the BIFoR site

Professor Sir Mark Walport visits the BIFoR site

See for further information on BIFoR