A Government Minister paid tribute to the “trailblazer” Institute of Translational Medicine (ITM) during an official visit to see the construction site.

Greg Clark MP, Minister for Universities, Science and Cities, inspected the site at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) on Tuesday 30 September 2014 after meeting senior representatives from University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB), the University of Birmingham (UoB) and Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (BCH).

The ITM will be a world-class clinical research facility located in the old QEH.

Its vision is to use pioneering science to accelerate the delivery of personalised healthcare.

The Institute also aims to cure disease and save lives by applying transformative science and technology and by educating and training the healthcare workforce.

Mr Clark, who visited the site after attending the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham city centre, said: “I signed the City Deal with Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, so it is now wonderful to see it go from paper to reality.

“It is one of the most innovative investments in the country, building on the strength of the city, its hospitals, university, and the population to really reinforce the reputation of Birmingham.”

The Minister agreed that the ITM set the future standard in terms of combining science research and healthcare, adding: “What a trailblazer this is for showing what local business and civic funding, combined with university research, can deliver for the good of the nation.”

Mr Clark had earlier met with Tim Jones, Executive Director of Delivery at UHB and Senior Responsible Officer for the ITM; Sir David Eastwood, Vice Chancellor at UofB; and Matthew Boazman, Director of Strategy at BCH.

The ITM will act as the single access point for industry with regard to clinical trials and device evaluation. It will provide office space, networking facilities and events which bring together clinicians, researchers and industry in an atmosphere of innovation and collaboration.

It is delivered by Birmingham Health Partners (BHP), which brings together the clinical, scientific and academic excellence of UHB, the UofB and BCH, as well as the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.

The project received planning permission in December 2013 and work commenced on site at the beginning of May 2014.

The QEH building will retain its existing stripped-back Art Deco façade with the internal spaces reconfigured as four wings set around a newly in-filled courtyard.

It represents the first healthcare development for Glenn Howells Architects.