Francis Crick Institute

In 2003, the Medical Research Council decided that its National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) would need to relocate from Mill Hill. A Task Force, one of whose external members was Sir Paul Nurse, was established to consider options.{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmsctech/6/6.pdf|title=The Medical Research Council's Review of the Future of the National Institute for Medical Research|publisher=House of Commons Science and Technology Committee|access-date=20 October 2016}} Sites eventually rejected included Addenbrooke's and the National Temperance Hospital.{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070620/text/70620w0009.htm|title=National Institute for Medical Research|publisher=House of Commons Hansard|access-date=20 October 2016}}

On 11 February 2005, it was announced that NIMR would relocate to University College London,{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2005/feb/11/highereducation.research|title=UCL wins lucrative research contract|date=11 February 2005|access-date=23 October 2010|work=The Guardian}} but this was dependent on funding from the government's Large Facilities Capital Fund and did not proceed.{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmsctech/454/454.pdf|title=Responses to the Committee's Fourth Report of Session 2004–05|publisher=House of Commons Science and Technology Committee|access-date=20 October 2016}}

In December 2006, the Cooksey Review, commissioned by Chancellor Gordon Brown in March, was published. It assessed the strategic priorities of UK health research, highlighting in particular the importance of translating basic research into health and economic benefits.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/228984/0118404881.pdf|title=A review of UK health research funding|last1=Cooksey|first1=Sir David|access-date=20 October 2016}}

The creation of the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation (UKCMRI) was announced by the then British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, on 5 December 2007.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7127980.stm|title=Deal secures £500m medical centre|date=5 December 2007|access-date=23 October 2010|work=BBC News}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/3317276/London-to-lead-in-medical-research.html|title=London to lead in medical research|date=5 December 2007|access-date=23 October 2010|work=The Daily Telegraph}} On 13 June 2008, the 3.5 acre eventual site on Brill Place was bought for UKCMRI for £85m, of which £46.75m was provided by MRC.{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmselect/cmsctech/writev/727/727.pdf|title=Written evidence UK Centre for Medical Research & Innovation (UKCMRI)|publisher=House of Commons Science and Technology Committee|access-date=20 October 2016}}

David Cooksey was chair of the Francis Crick Institute from 2009 to August 2017.{{cn|date=April 2024}}

On 15 July 2010 it was announced that Nobel laureate Paul Nurse would be the first director and chief executive of the UKCMRI.{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcmri.ac.uk/news/press-releases/paul-nurse|title=Project Press Release|date=15 July 2010|publisher=UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation web site|access-date=11 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100911030243/http://www.ukcmri.ac.uk/news/press-releases/paul-nurse|archive-date=11 September 2010|url-status=dead}} He took up his post on 1 January 2011.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/8047554/Sir-Paul-Nurse-Nobel-prize-winner-Britains-most-important-scientist.html|title=Sir Paul Nurse: Nobel prize-winner Britain's 'most important' scientist|date=7 October 2010|access-date=23 October 2010|work=The Daily Telegraph}} On 20 October 2010, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, confirmed that the British Government would be contributing £220 million over four years towards the capital cost of the centre.{{cite news|url=http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/politics/csr_news_king_s_cross_super_lab_ukcmri_gets_go_ahead_1_686181|title=King's Cross super-lab UKCMRI gets go-ahead|last1=Davies|first1=Katie|date=20 October 2010|work=Ham & High|access-date=20 October 2016|archive-date=21 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021001008/http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/politics/csr_news_king_s_cross_super_lab_ukcmri_gets_go_ahead_1_686181|url-status=dead}}

Finally, on 11 November 2010, Cancer Research UK, the Medical Research Council, UCL and the Wellcome Trust signed an agreement to establish the UKCMRI as a charitable foundation, subject to the agreement of the Charity Commission.{{cite news|url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/buildings/contracts/green-light-for-600m-medical-research-centre-in-london-11-11-2010/|title=Green light for £600m medical research centre in London|date=11 November 2010|access-date=11 November 2010|publisher=Construction News}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2010/jul/sir-paul-nurse-head-world-leading-centre-biomedical-research-and-innovation|title=Sir Paul Nurse to head world-leading centre for biomedical research and innovation|last=UCL|date=2010-07-15|website=UCL News|access-date=2019-07-08}} On 14 December 2010, Camden Council granted the planning approval for the scheme which had been submitted on 1 September.{{cite web|url=https://www.crick.ac.uk/news/news-archive/2010/12/16/plans-approved-for-visionary-institute/|title=Plans approved for visionary institute|access-date=20 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.crick.ac.uk/media/56659/tap1358_ukcmrinewslettermar2011_v4_web%20final.pdf|title=UKCMRI gets planning permission|access-date=20 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021001922/https://www.crick.ac.uk/media/56659/tap1358_ukcmrinewslettermar2011_v4_web%20final.pdf|archive-date=21 October 2016|url-status=dead}}

File:Francis Crick.png (above) and James Watson were two Cambridge scholars who created the first double-helix model of DNA and are the "fathers of modern genetics".|alt=An image of Francis Crick]]

On 15 April 2011 it was announced that Imperial College London and King's College London would be joining the UKCMRI as partners and that both had signed a memorandum of understanding to commit £40 million each to the project.

On 25 May 2011, it was announced that the UKCMRI would be renamed the Francis Crick Institute in July to coincide with ground being broken on the construction of its building, in honour of the British scientist and Nobel Prize winner Francis Crick.{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcmri.ac.uk/news/press-releases/a-new-name-for-ukcmri|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110726084646/http://www.ukcmri.ac.uk/news/press-releases/a-new-name-for-ukcmri|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 July 2011|title=A new name for UKCMRI|publisher=UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation web site|access-date=25 May 2011}} In July 2011 the UKCMRI was renamed the Francis Crick Institute. A dedication ceremony for the new building was held on 11 October 2011, attended by Mayor of London Boris Johnson, David Willetts MP and Sir Paul Nurse. Francis Crick's surviving daughter Gabrielle gave a short speech, while his son Mike donated Crick's California licence plate "AT GC" into a time capsule buried during the ceremony.e-mail from Mike Crick to Martin Packer 25 October 2011 On 6 June 2013 a topping out ceremony was held, the institute's science strategy was announced and a £3 million grant from the Wolfson Foundation was confirmed.{{cite web|url=https://www.crick.ac.uk/news/news-archive/2013/06/06/strategy-launched-at-crick-topping-out-ceremony/|title=Strategy launched at Crick Topping Out Ceremony|access-date=20 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZlYVMgIEOA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/1ZlYVMgIEOA |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Crick Topping Out Ceremony June 2013|website=YouTube |access-date=20 October 2013}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wolfson.org.uk/news/francis-crick-institute-receives-3-million-grant/|title=Francis Crick Institute receives £3 million grant|access-date=20 October 2016}}

In mid August 2016, construction work finished and the building was handed over. The first scientists moved in on 1 September.{{cite web|url=https://www.crick.ac.uk/news/press-releases/update-on-construction-work-on-the-new-building/|title=Building work finishes at the Francis Crick Institute|access-date=20 October 2016}} On 9 November 2016 the Francis Crick Institute was officially opened by the Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke of York. During the visit a portrait of Francis Crick by Robert Ballagh was unveiled.{{cite web|url=http://royalcentral.co.uk/uk/thequeen/queen-and-duke-of-edinburgh-open-the-francis-crick-institute-71238|title=Queen and Duke of Edinburgh open the Francis Crick Institute|access-date=17 January 2017|archive-date=18 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118060130/http://royalcentral.co.uk/uk/thequeen/queen-and-duke-of-edinburgh-open-the-francis-crick-institute-71238|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/jun/08/francis-crick-portrait-unveiled-breakthrough-dna-work-robert-ballagh-james-watson|title=Francis Crick portrait unveiled to honour breakthrough DNA work|last1=Kennedy|first1=Maev|date=8 June 2016|work=Guardian online|access-date=17 January 2017}} As part of her tour, The Queen started the sequencing of the genome of the Crick's director, Sir Paul Nurse – all three billion letters in his DNA code.{{cite web|url=http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_9-11-2016-17-11-55|title=The Queen opens the Francis Crick Institute - Europe's biggest biomedical lab|last1=Gallagher|first1=Laura|date=10 November 2016 |access-date=17 January 2017}}

File:Paul Nurse portrait.jpg, director and chief executive of the Institute since 2011]]

The Crick is led by a board of trustees, an executive committee, a scientific management committee and a scientific advisory board. As of 2024, the board is chaired by John Browne and includes Kate Bingham, Adrian Bird, Patrick Chinnery, Isabelle Ealet, Iain Foulkes, Brian Gilvary, Mene Pangalos, Geraint Rees, John-Arne Røttingen, Mary Ryan and Richard Trembath.{{cite web |title=Board |url=https://www.crick.ac.uk/about-us/leadership-structure/board |access-date=9 September 2024 |website=Francis Crick Institute}}

The executive committee is staffed by Paul Nurse (director and chief executive) and includes Richard Treisman (director of research), Steve Gamblin, Rahul Saxena, Ali Bailey, Michelle Shuttleworth, Stephen Mayhew and Steve Wilson.{{cite web |title=Executive committee |url=https://www.crick.ac.uk/about-us/leadership-structure/executive-committee |access-date=9 September 2024 |website=Francis Crick Institute}}

It was announced in July 2024 that Edith Heard will succeed Nurse as director and chief executive, expected to be from Summer 2025.{{cite web |title=Professor Edith Heard appointed new Director and Chief Executive of the Francis Crick Institute |url=https://www.crick.ac.uk/news/2024-07-09_professor-edith-heard-appointed-new-director-and-chief-executive-of-the-francis-crick-institute |access-date=11 September 2024}}

The participants in the Francis Crick Institute providing funding for its construction and establishment were:

{| class="wikitable"

|+

!Organisations

!Funding

!Comments

|-

|Medical Research Council

|£300 million

|Founding partner (UKCMRI), including incorporating their National Institute for Medical Research

|-

|Cancer Research UK

|£160 million

|Founding partner (UKCMRI), including incorporating their London Research Institute

|-

|Wellcome Trust

|£120 million

|Founding partner (UKCMRI)

|-

|University College London (UCL)

|£40 million

|Founding partner (UKCMRI)

|-

|Imperial College London

|£40 million

|

|-

|King's College London (KCL)

|£40 million

|

|}

The institute is a biomedical discovery institute aiming to help understand why disease develops and to find new ways to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, infections and neurodegenerative diseases.[https://mrc.ukri.org/about/institutes-units-centres/the-francis-crick-institute/ The Francis Crick Institute] mrc.ukri.org, accessed 18 October 2020

The institute defines its research programme as exploring "seven high-level science questions reflecting both major issues of interest in biomedical research and the current research strategies of its six founders". According to the institute, these questions are:{{Cite web |url=https://www.crick.ac.uk/strategy/science-programme/ |title=Science programme |access-date=12 July 2016 |website=www.crick.ac.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919173524/https://www.crick.ac.uk/strategy/science-programme/ |archive-date=19 September 2016 |url-status=dead }}

• How does a living organism acquire form and function?
• How do organisms maintain health and balance throughout life and as they age?
• How can we use biological knowledge to better understand, diagnose and treat human disease?
• How does cancer start, spread and respond to therapy?
• How does the immune system know whether, when and how to react?
• How do microbes and pathogens function and interact with their hosts?
• How does the nervous system detect, store and respond to information and retain that information throughout life?

In July 2015 GlaxoSmithKline was announced as the institute's first commercial partner. The deal involves contribution of resources and personnel to joint projects.{{cite news|last1=Ward|first1=Andrew|title=UK's new biomedical research centre teams up with industry|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3f20d756-2958-11e5-acfb-cbd2e1c81cca.html#axzz4JNmKsY3W|work=Financial Times|date=14 July 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Hirschler|first1=Ben|last2=Char|first2=Pravin|title=GSK first drugmaker to tie up with new Crick institute|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-gsk-biology-crick-idUKKCN0PN2MG20150713|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916032240/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-gsk-biology-crick-idUKKCN0PN2MG20150713|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 September 2016|work=Reuters}}

In May 2022, The Francis Crick Institute announced it had received a £50 million pledge from the Chris Banton Foundation, the largest individual philanthropic pledge in the institute's five-year history. The pledge will fund a new meeting hub initiative to accelerate the translation of Crick discoveries into societal benefits.{{cite journal|date=2 May 2022|url=https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/francis-crick-institute-receives-63-million-pledge-for-research-fund|title=Francis Crick Institute receives $63 million pledge for research fund|journal=Philanthropy News Digest|access-date=4 May 2022}}

In 2015, Tomas Lindahl, Emeritus group leader at the Francis Crick Institute and Emeritus director of Cancer Research UK at Clare Hall Laboratory, Hertfordshire, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry together with Paul Modrich and Aziz Sancar.{{cite web|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2015/press-release/|title=The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2015|website=NobelPrize.org}}

In 2016, Professor Tim Bliss, from the Crick, and Professors Graham Collingridge (University of Bristol) and Richard Morris (University of Edinburgh) were awarded The Brain Prize.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thebrainprize.org/flx/prize_winners/prize_winners_2016/ |title=The Brain Prize Winners 2016 |website=www.thebrainprize.org |access-date=12 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032254/http://www.thebrainprize.org/flx/prize_winners/prize_winners_2016/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}

File:Francis Crick Institute building, Oct 2015.jpg

The Francis Crick Institute is located in a state-of-the-art building, opened in 2016, built next to St Pancras railway station in the Camden area of Central London.{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcmri.ac.uk/news/press-releases/unprecedented-step|title=Project Press Release|access-date=11 August 2010|publisher=UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation web site|date=21 June 2010|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100911231034/http://www.ukcmri.ac.uk/news/press-releases/unprecedented-step|archive-date=11 September 2010}} It consists of four reinforced concrete blocks up to eight storeys high plus four basement levels. The total internal floor area is {{Convert|82578|m2|sqyd|abbr=on}} including {{Convert|29179|m2|sqyd|abbr=on}} of laboratories with {{Convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on}} of laboratory benching and {{Convert|21839|m2|sqyd|abbr=on}} of associated write up space.{{cite web|title=The Francis Crick Institute, London|url=http://www.laingorourke.com/media/eej-2016/the-francis-crick-institute.aspx|access-date=20 October 2016|archive-date=21 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021002204/http://www.laingorourke.com/media/eej-2016/the-francis-crick-institute.aspx|url-status=dead}}

As well as state of the art scientific equipment, much of it extremely sensitive to vibration and electromagnetic emissions, and requiring advanced methods of air handling,{{cite journal |last1=Ferguson |first1=Hugh|last2=Berry |first2=Steve |last3=Partridge|first3=Rob |title=Francis Crick Institute, London |journal=Ingenia Online |date=June 2016 |issue=67 |url=http://www.ingenia.org.uk/Ingenia/Articles/1020 |access-date=20 October 2016}} over a third of the building is given over to plant rooms and services distribution. The facility incorporates a combined heat and power plant in order to provide low-carbon onsite power.[http://www.clarke-energy.com/2014/francis-crick-institute-chp-plant/ Francis Crick Institute CHP Plant], www.clarke-energy.com, retrieved 07/07/2014 Solar panels installed in the roof provide extra renewable power and all light fittings are energy-efficient.{{Cite web |url=https://www.crick.ac.uk/the-new-building/environment/ |title=Environment |website=www.crick.ac.uk |access-date=12 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019055118/https://www.crick.ac.uk/the-new-building/environment/ |archive-date=19 October 2016 |url-status=dead }} The roof also hides the heating and cooling units. A third of the building is below ground to reduce its visible size and provide further protection to sensitive equipment.

Laboratories within the building are arranged over four floors, made up of four interconnected blocks, designed to encourage interaction between scientists working in different research fields.{{Cite web |url=https://www.crick.ac.uk/the-new-building/architecture/ |title=Architecture |website=www.crick.ac.uk |access-date=6 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207005036/https://www.crick.ac.uk/the-new-building/architecture/ |archive-date=7 February 2016 |url-status=dead }} The institute also includes a public exhibition/gallery space, an educational space, a 450-seat auditorium and a community facility.{{Cite web |url=https://www.crick.ac.uk/the-new-building/faqs/ |title=Frequently asked questions (FAQs) |website=www.crick.ac.uk |access-date=12 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019054549/https://www.crick.ac.uk/the-new-building/faqs/ |archive-date=19 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}

'Paradigm', a 14-metre high sculpture made of weathered steel and designed by the British artist Conrad Shawcross, was installed outside the main entrance to the institute in 2016. It is one of the largest public sculptures in London.{{cite web|url=https://www.wallpaper.com/art/conrad-shawcross-unveils-imposing-new-sculpture-for-francis-crick-institute|title=Conrad Shawcross unveils imposing new sculpture for The Francis Crick Institute|first=Florence|last=Waters|date=26 February 2016|website=Wallpaper*}}

In July 2008 Arup Project Management, who had previously been involved in site evaluation studies (alongside CBRE UK who acted as planning advisors and in the procurement of the site), were appointed by the client UKCMRI as project manager for the institute's chosen location at Brill Place.{{cite journal|last1=Berry|first1=Steve|title=Engineering DNA|url=http://www.cibsejournal.com/archive/PDFs/CIBSE-Journal-2014-09.pdf|journal=CIBSE Journal|issue=September 2014|pages=24–28|access-date=20 October 2016}} In August the full professional team was appointed, including architect and lead designer HOK, AKT II (structural engineer), Arup (building services engineering), CBRE Group (UK) (planning consultants) and Turner & Townsend (cost managers).{{cite journal|year=2008|title=UCL in partnership|url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/Annual_Review_2008|journal=UCL Annual Review|page=5|access-date=20 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170117071041/https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/Annual_Review_2008|archive-date=17 January 2017|url-status=dead}} In 2010 PLP Architecture was appointed to collaborate with HOK on the building's external envelope and BMJ architects were retained as a biological research facilities consultant.{{cite journal|last1=Bevan|first1=Robert|date=24 May 2016|title=Francis Crick Institute by HOK with PLP|url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/buildings/francis-crick-institute-by-hok-with-plp/10006078.article|journal=Architects' Journal|access-date=20 October 2016}}{{subscription required}}

Following planning approval by Camden in December 2010, Laing O'Rourke was appointed as main contractor in March 2011.[http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2011/03/02/orourke-set-for-prized-350m-superlab-contract/ O'Rourke wins prized £350m superlab contract] Construction Enquirer, 2 March 2011{{cite web|url=https://www.crick.ac.uk/news/news-archive/2011/03/11/laing-o%E2%80%99rourke-to-be-ukcmri-main-contractor/|title=Laing O'Rourke to be UKCMRI main contractor|access-date=20 October 2016}}

Construction began in July 2011 and reached practical completion on time and within budget in August 2016, with researchers starting work in the new building in September.{{cite web|url=https://www.crick.ac.uk/news/news-archive/2016/09/01/science-begins-in-the-new-francis-crick-institute-building/|title=Science begins in the new Francis Crick Institute building|website=The Francis Crick Institute|access-date=5 September 2016}}

The construction cost was £465 million and including fit-out of the building the capital cost of the project was approximately £700 million.{{cite news|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/features/the-francis-crick-institute-science-and-serendipity|title=The Francis Crick Institute: science and serendipity|last1=Matthews|first1=David|date=26 November 2015|work=THES|access-date=20 October 2016}}

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