High Containment Level 3 (CL3) suites, providing a safe environment for research.
Fully automated liquid handling systems that ensure precision and speed in experimental workflows.
Integrated AI and robotics for 24/7 monitoring, data capture, and high-throughput screening.
Human organoid platforms that accurately mimic human tissue responses to infection.
In a world increasingly vulnerable to biological threats, having the right infrastructure in place to safely research dangerous pathogens and proactively develop new treatments and diagnostics is critical.
The new secure Containment Level 3 (CL3) laboratory is fitted with state-of-the-art liquid handling systems, robotics, and AI. The Liverpool Accelerate Laboratory also meets Schedule Five biohazard security requirements, meaning it is future-fit for the safe handling of dangerous pathogens. The laboratory is a high-security, steel-clad facility that responds to forthcoming changes in the Terrorism Act – making it a key UK biosecurity asset.
Equipped with automated tools for liquid handling, incubation, and collaborative robotics, the facility will enable high-throughput organoid generation and precise manipulation of sensitive biological samples. This will facilitate rapid and accurate testing of new anti-infectives, ensuring the safe and effective development of treatments for some of the world’s most dangerous pathogens.
Organoid technology; miniature, lab-grown tissue models that mimic human organ functions, holds significant promise for reducing vaccine development timelines by providing more predictive preclinical models for human responses.
Organoid models are human cells which have been grown into miniature organs which respond as they would in a body. These innovative models are more indicative of the impact a drug will have on a human than tests based on animals – providing more reliable, humane, and accurate data for researchers testing new drugs or vaccines.
This project builds on many years of pioneering research at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine to develop infection organoid models which allow the effect of a drug or vaccine to be studied. There has been a significant investment to automate the development of these organoid models which means the process is quicker and more reproducible.
LSTM is already home to the largest concentration of Containment Level 3 laboratories in the North West, which played a key role in the rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Liverpool Accelerate Laboratory will support the next phase of iiCON’s development, bolstering the infection innovation ecosystem between industry, academia, and the NHS to enhance the discovery and route to market for products that tackle infectious disease. The facilities will enable closer collaborations with industry and potentially speed up regulatory approval for new treatments.
The £20 million facility funded by a £10 million investment from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, alongside funding from Research England’s Expanding Excellence in England E3 fund, and The Wolfson Foundation, will accelerate the preclinical development of new therapeutics, vaccines, and diagnostics using organoid technology; reinforcing the UK’s global leadership in health innovation.
As well as saving lives, the robotic laboratories are forecast to generate £40m of investment in the first three years – creating well-paid jobs and driving research.
