Morris & Spottiswood's laboratory division, ASSAB, has completed a £240k contract at Ninewells Hospital to construct a pioneering new translational medicines research centre for the University of Dundee.

The contract, which was won by competitive tender, was for the supply, delivery and installation of 5 floors of laboratory furniture in the hospital’s new core research laboratory dedicated solely to translational medicines.

The Translational Medicine Research Collaboration (TMRC) is a unique venture bringing together one of the world's biggest pharmaceutical companies [Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc] and Scotland's leading medical research centres at universities in Dundee, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.

They are jointly collaborating in the development of personalised medicine bringing new treatments to patients suffering from a range of serious illnesses.

Translational medicine is a revolutionary approach to developing new drugs and treatments, focusing on new tests for the diagnosis and monitoring of human diseases. This new research laboratory will initially create 50 new jobs.


ASSAB's business unit head, Jane Finnigan, said: "Our team feel very proud that they have been involved in the building of what is destined to be a pioneering centre of medical excellence which will help the development of new drugs in the battle against cancer and other serious illnesses.

She added: "It was a challenging project given the site's topography which meant the new building had to be accessed from the existing 5th floor of the adjacent building which severely restricted our access for deliveries."

ASSAB worked alongside Glasgow architects, Boswell, Mitchell and Johnston. The companies have previously worked together on a number of contracts including the University of Glasgow Bower Building, the Cardiovascular and Biomedical Building, and the University of St Andrews. The main contractor was Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd.

This contract follows ASSAB's successful completion earlier this year of works at the new pathological sciences laboratories incorporating the Paul O’Gorman Leukaemia Research Centre at Gartnavel Hospital in Glasgow.

The £180k project at Gartnavel Hospital included the supply, delivery and installation of three floors of new laboratory furniture and services for the new laboratories as well as the research centre.

Although this was predominantly a new build project, it also contained a link corridor and the refurbishment of an existing laboratory in the adjoining Blood Transfusion building, which was still actively being used whilst installation was taking place. The project formed part of a series of major improvements taking place at the Gartnavel site to ensure that it remains one of Glasgow's key locations for medical care in the years ahead.

ASSAB is a specialist division of Morris & Spottiswood, Scotland's leading fitout, housing and maintenance providers, with an annual turnover of £125m. ASSAB’s services include the design, manufacture and installation of top quality modular laboratory furniture and fume cupboards - from a single bench through to complete design and build and turnkey packages.