University opens Stoller Biomarker Discovery Centre

15 Jun 2016

£18 million lab complex will discover the clues to individuals’ illnesses

The University has opened the multi-million pound Stoller Biomarker Discovery Centre.

The £18 million centre will identify the unique markers of diseases such as cancer or arthritis. These markers will be developed to ensure the right treatment for the right patient as early as possible.

The Stoller Biomarker Discovery Centre, which is funded by a philanthropic gift from the Stoller Charitable Trust, the Medical Research Council and in partnership with SCIEX, will help to industrialise the process of identifying biomarkers – the molecular clues that indicate the presence of a disease or other condition.

By detecting these on a scale never seen before in Europe, University scientists and clinicians will be able to work with health companies and the NHS to produce a greater number of tests and develop new treatments to accelerate the process of curing many of the most serious illnesses faced today.

Medicines have historically been developed for whole populations, but biomarkers help to stratify patients so they get the right treatment for them, not one size fits all.  In cancer work already ongoing in the Centre has identified possible tests to detect ovarian cancer earlier disease, gaining valuable advantage by being able to treat this disease earlier and therefore more effectively.

Professor Tony Whetton, the Director of the new Centre, said: “The Centre is a major step forward in precision medicine.  Essentially this is the future of healthcare – getting the right treatment to the right person at the right time and in the right dose.

“Without the knowledge of biomarkers we won’t be able to identify which people need treatment or who will benefit from certain medicines, so this new centre underpins everything we’re doing in precision medicine in Manchester and beyond.”

The Stoller Biomarker Centre is located at CityLabs Manchester, in the midst of biotechnology companies, the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Manchester. 

It is being officially opened during a special two day conference (14-15 June), which has attracted some of the biggest names in medical research such as Dr Leroy Hood, Dr Leigh Anderson, and Professor Jennifer Van Eyk.

President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell said: “Manchester has become a major hub for precision medicine and proteomics we are very grateful to the funders who have backed the cutting-edge work that is carried out by our scientists.

“As a result of their generosity, The Stoller Biomarker Discovery Centre will start work on addressing some of the biggest issues in medicine in an environment where these discoveries can move quickly to improve people’s lives.”