17/09/2015

New 'World Class' Health Labs To Be Established In Harlow

New "world-class" health labs are to be established in Harlow, with a significant investment in public health science in the UK, Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, has announced.

Public Health England will move parts of its operation from its current facilities at Porton Down into the new labs, which will be based at a site currently owned by GlaxoSmithKline.

The new facility will create a leading centre for research, health improvement and protection allowing the continued development of world leading work on international health threats, such as Ebola.

Making the announcement while visiting the site of the new labs in Harlow, Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne said: "This investment is crucial for the future of research and innovation in public health. Moving PHE from their current facilities into new labs here in Harlow is not only the right thing to do for the future of health research, but it’s the right decision for the taxpayer. I look forward to seeing the development of these world-class facilities and the important role they’ll play in keeping Britain safe."

Health minister Jane Ellison added: "We saw from the Ebola epidemic how important it is to be ready to respond to emerging health threats and protect the nation. This significant investment in public health science will keep the UK at the forefront of the work for global health security."

(MH/CD)

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