Hasselt University starts construction of new biomedical research complex
Hasselt University has started the construction of a research complex for biotechnological and medical research, called Biomed-Vision. The building on the campus in Diepenbeek will house specialised technology platforms that external companies will also be able to use. There will also be space for patient-oriented medical scientific research.
The new complex is next to the current Biomed building and will have five floors, in response to increasing demand from researchers for more space.
“In recent years, our biomedical research institute has grown tremendously, both in terms of staff and technologies,” said Professor Veerle Somers, dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences. “This new research complex responds well to our need for more space to further expand our research into chronic conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and rheumatism.”
The complex will house the Biomed platforms for microscopy, complex cellular analysis and data science.
“Biotech companies and other partners can also use it for research collaboration or services,” said Biomed director Professor Niels Hellings. This meets the demand from start-up companies for whom expensive investments are not feasible. Thanks to the collaboration with Hasselt University, they too will have access to this infrastructure and will be able to further develop their innovations.
In addition to the various research platforms, the new building will also house the Limburg Clinical Research Centre (LCRC). This academic collaboration between Hasselt University and the Jessa and ZOL hospitals focuses on patient-oriented medical scientific research.
“This is the first time that the LCRC will also have a physical location on our campus, which will provide additional opportunities for collaboration with Biomed,” said LCRC director Professor Piet Stinissen. “In addition to office space, there will also be consultation rooms where patients participating in medical studies can be received.”
The new building will cost a total of 12 million euros. In addition to its own resources, UHasselt can also count on 3 million euros in support from the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund and from the Flemish government's Fund for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The works will continue until the summer of 2027.
#FlandersNewsService | UHasselt © BELGA PHOTO YORICK JANSENS
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