The International Centre for Life opened in 2000, born out of an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to creating a self-sustaining science village.
Biomedicine East Wing is home to Newcastle University and NHS Northern Genetics Service.
The NHS Fertility Centre
The clinic has gained the reputation for pioneering new technologies that have been adopted internationally. Most couples in the North East can be seen as NHS patients and the Centre receives referrals via GPs. A fee paying service is available for those who are not eligible for NHS funded treatment.
Newcastle University
In 2019, Newcastle University restructured its Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS). The University's research at Life, previously known as the Institute of Genetic Medicine, is now a part of various research institutes of FMS, with many of the onsite scientists working within the Biosciences Institute and the Translational and Clinical Research Institute.
At Life, more than 30 research groups, with over 200 research staff and postgraduate students, continue to do cutting-edge research.
The NHS Northern Genetics Service
Working closely with onsite researchers at Newcastle University, the Northern Genetics Service provides comprehensive and fully integrated clinical and laboratory services that can help reduce the incidence of illnesses associated with genetic disease. The research done at Life is leading to a much better understanding of the role that genes play in common diseases such as cancer and heart disease. The Northern Genetics Service provides a diagnostic and "genetic counselling" service across the region for people with problems or susceptibilities relating to genetic disorders.
These disorders include single gene disorders such as muscular dystrophy, Huntington’s disease and cystic fibrosis plus birth defects and/or learning disabilities with a genetic component. The Newcastle Muscle Centre at the Institute of Genetic Medicine is one of three centres in England for the diagnosis and management of inherited muscle diseases supported by the British Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.
