Queen's University Belfast has awarded a construction contract worth £39m ($41.07m) to Graham for constructing two new structures adjacent to the Belfast City Hospital, as a component of the proposed 8,500m2 iREACH Health facility.
The development of the new £64m iREACH Health innovation centre is a collaborative effort of Queen's University Belfast, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and Health and Social Care Research and Development Division.
Funded by the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive through the Belfast Region City Deal, with partial contribution from Queen's University Belfast, the centre is poised to bring social, health, and economic benefits to Northern Ireland.
Queen's University president and vice-chancellor Ian Greer said: “For 180 years, Queen’s has been at the forefront of innovation, delivering major impact and benefits for people in our region and across the world. This spirit of innovation continues today through initiatives like iREACH Health, which will be transformational for our clinical trial ecosystem.
“This new facility will enable groundbreaking clinical trial capability and ensure Northern Ireland remains at the forefront of life and health sciences, addressing some of the most pressing health challenges of our time.”
The iREACH Health innovation centre aims to enhance the efficiency and connectivity of clinical trials, thereby benefiting the health of the local community.
It is anticipated that the centre will create more than 1,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities and add an extra £750m to the region's GDP throughout its operational lifespan.
Approval for the facility's planning was obtained in March, with major construction scheduled to begin in December 2024.
The integrated clinical research centre is expected to operate from the new buildings by 2026, bolstering Northern Ireland's life and health sciences sector and housing up to 360 staff.
Queen's three regional centres, focusing on advanced manufacturing and digital technologies and clinical research, are expected to create up to 4,000 new jobs.
They will contribute to Queen's commitment to achieving net zero by 2040.
