The life sciences sector in Leicester and Leicestershire is booming, with more than 4,500 people working at 135 life science firms, and phenomenal growth in the area over recent years.
DNA Fingerprinting
DNA fingerprinting was invented at the University of Leicester by Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys in 1984 and today the UK’s Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Genetics (GENIE) is internationally renowned.
Life Science Opportunity Zone
The region is also home to the UK’s first Life Science Opportunity Zone - Charnwood Campus - situated in Loughborough, Leicestershire. It offers an environment to inspire discovery, encourage collaboration and accelerate business growth for the Med-Tech and Biopharma community.
Universities
Loughborough University is in the top 10 of UK Universities for Biosciences, with the STEMLab facility representing a recent £17 million investment in new state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. The university has international R&D expertise in sports science, injury management, health and wellbeing, exercise medicine and rehabilitation, and health technologies.
Leicester University’s College of Life Sciences has almost one-thousand staff and approaching 4,000 students in its four schools, which cover the biological, medical, and human sciences. Research achievements include the development of DNA fingerprinting, vital advances in fighting heart disease, cancer, respiratory diseases and diabetes, and developments in forensic psychology.
The Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at De Montfort University (DMU) is home to our wide range of pharmaceutical, healthcare, lab based and social science courses.
Other Key Sectors in Leicestershire