A new £49.2 million data-driven innovation and research centre for health and social care opens today in Edinburgh in a bid to tackle ‘urgent’ challenges – including an ageing population, widening health inequalities and childhood wellbeing.
The pioneering Usher Building in the city’s BioQuarter will be officially unveiled by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organisation, and leading politicians at a press launch.
He will be joined by the Rt Hon Ian Murray MP, secretary of state for Scotland, and Maree Todd MSP, minister for drug and alcohol policy and sport, alongside university staff and students to mark the opening of this state-of-the-art hub.
During the ceremony, Dr Tedros will receive the university’s inaugural Edinburgh Prize for Global Health Impact in recognition of the WHO’s work to provide children across the world access to life-saving vaccinations.
“For hundreds of years, the University of Edinburgh has been a revered centre of learning and research,” said Dr Tedros. “With the Usher Building’s opening, the university is future-proofing that proud heritage by embracing the latest medical innovations, artificial intelligence and data analysis to contribute to making a healthier world.”
“I am honoured to receive this award, which is a recognition of the life-saving power of vaccination, and of the commitment shown by WHO colleagues and health partners around the world to offer children the hope that immunization provides for healthier and productive futures.”
Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, said: “The opening of the Usher Building is a major step forward for the University of Edinburgh – and wider society – in reimagining how we improve health and social care. By bringing together researchers, clinicians and industry experts, we have created a dynamic hub that will drive innovation for the benefit of all. It is inspiring to shine a light on the outstanding work underway here and, together with the United Nations and many other key partners, we remain committed to advancing these critical efforts to improve lives.”
The new building will house more than 900 researchers, health and care providers and industry leaders who are harnessing data to improve health and social care outcomes.
Pioneering work taking place within the Usher Building includes researchers leveraging artificial intelligence to improve surgical outcomes and scientists exploring diagnostic potential through routine retina imaging.
Genetic studies of populations in Shetland, Orkney and the Hebrides are also yielding vital insights into cancer genetics, while health data experts track population trends to enhance prevention, diagnosis and care delivery across communities.
This work proved vital during the Covid-19 pandemic, when it was used to guide the Scottish, UK and international governments’ approach to vaccinations and wider public health policy.
Another key initiative is DataLoch – a partnership between the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian – which brings together de-identified data from everyday use of health and social care services. Approved researchers from across sectors can securely access this resource to investigate a wide range of issues, from service improvement to health inequalities.
More recently, DataLoch is supporting researchers to access health and care data linked to other data sets to build a clearer picture of the links between health and social factors.
One such study, Healthy Homes, Healthy Kids, is combining data from prepayment smart meters and health records to explore, for the first time, the links between underheated homes and children’s health. The findings aim to inform policy and support efforts to improve the wellbeing of families across Scotland.
The Usher Building is one of six innovation hubs that has received funding from the UK and Scottish Governments as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, with additional generous support from The Wolfson Foundation.
The University of Edinburgh received £49.2m capital funding for the building through the Edinburgh & South East Scotland City Region Deal, with £48.5m from the UK Government and £0.7m from the Scottish Government.
