UHasselt strengthens Health Campus Limburg DC with new research building BIOMED-VISION

Works have started on Limburg Diepenbeek Campus for BIOMED-VISION, a new research complex for biotechnological and medical research at UHasselt. The new 3,100m² building will house specialised technology platforms that can also be used by external companies, as well as space for the patient-oriented medical-scientific research of the Limburg Clinical Research Centre. "BIOMED-VISION will thus become a huge asset for the further expansion of Health Campus Limburg DC," say Rector Bernard Vanheusden and Deputy Tom Vandeput.

The new five-storey research complex, is adjacent to the current building of research institute BIOMED. "Over the past few years, our biomedical research institute has grown tremendously, both in number of employees, and in number of technologies. This new research complex responds well to our need for more space in order to further grow our research into chronic diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, dementia and rheumatism," says Prof Dr Veerle Somers, dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences.

Health Campus Limburg DC
For innovative biomedical research, well-equipped advanced technology platforms are essential. The BIOMED platforms for microscopy, complex cellular analyses and data sciences will therefore be bundled in the brand-new research labs. Biotech companies and other partners can also make use of these for research collaboration or services, says Prof Niels Hellings, director of BIOMED.

"This advanced technology is essential for biotechnology research, but is often too big an investment for start-up companies. Thanks to the cooperation with UHasselt, they too now have access to this infrastructure and can further develop their innovations. It is precisely this kind of cross-pollination between university and industry that we want to fully encourage on Health Campus," states Tom Vandeput, deputy for Economy and chairman of POM Limburg.

Consultation rooms for patients
At the same time, the Limburg Clinical Research Centre (LCRC) will also be given a place in the new building. This academic collaboration between UHasselt and the hospitals Jessa and ZOL focuses on patient-oriented medical-scientific research. "It is the first time that the LCRC will also have a physical location on our campus, which will give the collaboration with BIOMED additional opportunities," he says. In addition to office spaces, consultation rooms are also provided, where patients participating in medical studies can go. This physical place is therefore really going to be a great added value for our research," says Prof Piet Stinissen, director of the LCRC.

12 million euro, with support from Europe
The new BIOMED-VISION building will cost 12 million euros. Besides its own funds, UHasselt can also count on support from the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and from the Flemish government's Fund for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FIO). The works will run until the summer of 2027.

Thomas de Béthune, representative of the European Commission in Belgium, welcomed the realisation as follows: "Proud to be able to contribute to a new free port for medical science here with a 3 million euro investment of European funds. By teaming up with UHasselt and the Flemish government to focus on care and innovation, we are putting people first. We are very happy that both medical treatments and jobs of the future will soon be able to fully develop here."