New Roundabout at Babraham officially opened

19th December 2007

The new entrance to the Babraham Research Campus was officially opened this week following the completion of a new roundabout on the A1307, over one week ahead of schedule.

The roundabout construction works, completed under a Section 106 Agreement as part of a planning agreement with the Babraham Institute, will reduce the volume of vehicular traffic through Babraham village and improve access to the rapidly expanding biomedical campus.

The Babraham Research Campus is the UK’s leading knowledge-driven Biomedical Park with academic research operating alongside commercial ventures. The campus is home to the Babraham Institute a charitable biomedical research organisation investigating the biological basis of cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and diseases of the immune and cardiovascular systems, and around 30 biomedical companies in Babraham’s highly successful Bioincubator.

Dr David Bloxham, Chair of the Babraham Institute’s Board of Directors cut the ribbon and declared the roundabout open. He said, “Babraham intends to continue to develop this campus as it strengthens its status as a world leading research Institute. But at the same time, it also recognises that in developing the site it has responsibilities to the local community and wishes to be a good neighbour. So in opening the roundabout today, taking inspiration from the American Poet Robert Frost, hopefully good roundabouts make good neighbours.”

Professor Michael Wakelam, Director of the Babraham Institute said, "The campus is home to world-leading biomedical research, supported by the BBSRC but also plays a pivotal role for biomedical start-up companies in the Cambridge region, delivering innovation at the frontiers of biomedical research. The new campus entrance represents the latest phase in our development and the Institute has been extremely pleased with the performance of the main contractor throughout the duration of this project."

Contact details:

Dr Claire Cockcroft
Head, External Relations
Email: claire.cockcroft@babraham.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1223 496260
Fax: +44 (0)1223 496002
Mobile: +44 (0)7786 335978

The Babraham Institute
Babraham Research Campus
Cambridge
CB22 3AT
United Kingdom
http://www.babraham.ac.uk

Notes for Editors:

The Babraham Institute is a charitable organisation devoted to biomedical research and is an institute of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The Institute’s research is focused on understanding the biological events that underlie the normal functions of cells and on how their failure or abnormality may lead to disease. As such, Institute scientists are striving to find cures for conditions where there is currently no treatment or where the existing treatment is not fully effective or causes serious side effects. The latest technologies are being used to study the basis of conditions such as neurodegenerative disorders, birth defects, cancer and diseases of the immune and cardiovascular systems. With a strategic focus on ‘healthy ageing’, novel approaches for tackling chronic diseases and public health concerns like obesity are being discovered. The Institute’s innovative research is commercialised through Babraham Bioscience Technologies (BBT) Ltd, which also manages Babraham’s vibrant Bioincubator on the Babraham Research Campus, six miles south-east of Cambridge.  Website: www.babraham.co.uk

Babraham Bioscience Technologies Ltd is the wholly-owned subsidiary and trading arm of the Babraham Institute. Coalescing scientific, technological and commercial excellence, BBT delivers the Knowledge Transfer remit of the Institute through the wider landscape of the Babraham Research Campus, catalysing opportunities for enterprise across the academic and commercial divide. BBT brings together all the elements to support innovation and enable the successful exploitation of research in the biomedical sector based on technologies emanating from the Babraham Institute and bioventures relocating to the Babraham Research Campus.

The Babraham Research Campus is the UK’s leading knowledge-driven Biomedical Park where world-class research, business know-how and entrepreneurial excellence come together to stimulate effective knowledge transfer and bridge the academic and commercial divide. The campus provides a unique and highly successful environment that actively fosters innovation and plays a pivotal role for biomedical start-up companies in the Cambridge region and with delivering innovation at the frontiers of biomedical research.

BBT has taken a prominent role regionally, initiating and leading partnerships to promote knowledge and skills flow and has established a reputation for successfully translating innovative science into viable business opportunities through partnerships for wealth creation. This is stimulating inward investment to the campus and contributing to regional development. Building on the success of the incubator model, BBT established a new venture, Aitua Ltd, formerly 'Babraham BioConcepts Ltd'. Aitua works closely with innovators to create and nurture emerging companies from world-class science and technology deriving mainly from the Babraham Institute or locating to the Babraham Research Campus. It will provide seed and early round funding, inject specific expertise and provide access to facilities to companies. BBT’s activities support wider investment in the life sciences to generate and sustain growth of the region’s healthcare economy. Website: www.babraham.com

Robert Frost, American poet, wrote ‘Mending Wall’ in 1915, which includes the quote, 'Good fences make good neighbors’ as he explores the meaning and nature of relationships, social barriers and communications within a community to safeguard a harmonious existence.