Global infection innovation hub announced in Liverpool

Kier is conducting an extensive refurbishment of Pembroke House to transform it into a 14,688 sq ft contemporary education space for the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the Infection Innovation Consortium.

When complete, the two organisations will work together to train health professionals on the medical problems of the future: emerging pandemics, drug-resistant infections and rapid mass outbreaks of infection.

The two-storey Pembroke House sits on the corner of London Road and Daulby Street. The more than £5m project will allow the building to retain its external façade, with the major changes happening internally. The building is also being fitted out with the ability to offer immersive reality technology.

“LSTM’s mission has always been about training global health leaders of the future, and Pembroke house will enable us to deliver a student-centred authentic context for learning,” said Dr Martyn Stewart, interim head of education at LSTM.

“Through scenarios, simulations and immersive learning we will be able to replicate real-world situations for our students both in the UK and, exploiting the connectivity that the centre will have to offer, those overseas too.

“This enhanced connectivity will also allow us to expand a learning community together with overseas partners, particularly in low- and middle-income settings,” Stewart continued. “Working with teaching staff, themselves with vast real-world experience, and with access to industry partners means that LSTM is able to offer a space to develop students who can go forward to make a difference.”

Modern City Architecture & Urbanism is the project architect and helping LSTM with the planning process for Pembroke House. Faithful + Gould are the project managers.

The development team also includes GVAV on audio and visual, The Senator Group on FF&E and Steven Hunt and Associates on M&E.

Work on Pembroke House is expected to complete before LSTM’s 12^th anniversary in 2023. Funding for the project is from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Professor Janet Hemingway, director of the Infection Innovation Consortium, praised the project.

“Pembroke House will act as a catalyst for innovation, bringing together industry, academia, and our regional community in world-class facilities where collaboration will thrive, and the next generation of talented global health leaders will be trained and inspired,” she said.

“Having a dedicated space to support and enable our industry partners on their innovation journey through high-quality training, networking, and partnering is at the heart of the iiCON ambition,” she continued. “We’re delighted to be working with our consortium lead, LSTM, to deliver this incredibly exciting project that will future-proof the Liverpool City Region’s position as the world’s leading centre for infection innovation for this and future generations.”

Echoing Hemingway’s sentiments, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said that Pembroke House would play a part in making Liverpool known for its infectious disease research.

“Our region is a global leader in understanding and tackling infectious diseases, and we’re continually striving to innovate and future-proof ourselves against the viruses and pandemics of the future,” Rotheram said. “I believe that the tools for battling future global health emergencies will be developed in the Liverpool City Region.

“This new centre of excellence at Pembroke House will be another vital string to our bow, a crucial tool to train the next generation of innovators and health leaders. It is a tangible example of the difference we can make when local political leaders, academia, the public and private sectors come together to share our vision and expertise,” he continued.

“I want our region to be known as the global epicentre for tackling infectious diseases, a home to high-skilled, well-paid jobs that will save countless lives across the world for many years to come.”