Building for life

Francesco Bellini donates $10 M towards new life sciences building at McGill

Life is about to be explored in revolutionary new ways at McGill. The University is set to construct an innovative life sciences building that will change the way research is conducted. Built at a total cost of $53.1 million, the Francesco Bellini Life Sciences Building will be the centrepiece of the largest research complex of its kind in Eastern Canada and will be one of the biggest construction projects undertaken in McGill's history.

The new building is being constructed to stimulate the cross-fertilization of research between scientists from McGill's Faculties of Science and Medicine, as well as the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). Investigators will work closely together in the new quarters to foster multi-discipline discoveries within five thematic biomedical fields: cancer, genetics of complex traits, chemical biology, developmental and reproductive biology, and cell information transfer systems.

Francesco Bellini: A research pioneer and benefactor

The Francesco Bellini Life Sciences Building will be named after its lead benefactor, Dr. Francesco Bellini. The Montreal scientist and businessman has made an extraordinarily generous gift of $10 million towards the new building. Dr. Bellini has long been at the forefront of biomedical research and has made a lasting impact on world health. Through BioChem Pharma, the Montreal-based firm he co-founded in 1986 that is now a part of Shire BioChem, Dr. Bellini catapulted Canadian biopharmaceutical research to global prominence. By the late 1980s, in collaboration with the late Dr. Bernard Belleau, a McGill graduate and chemistry professor, and Dr. Gervais Dionne, Dr. Bellini developed and commercialized 3TC. The drug was the first anti-HIV compound. Today, 3TC remains the cornerstone of combination HIV/AIDS infection therapies.

In making his exemplary gift to the life sciences building, Dr. Bellini has renewed his commitment to improve society through advances in life sciences. "This gift is an investment in Montreal, an investment in the health and well-being of our society, an investment in our students and researchers and, ultimately, an investment in our future," says Dr. Bellini. "Researchers are still so far away from making the breakthroughs needed to cure cancer, diabetes and other serious diseases. My hope is that major discoveries will be made in this dynamic new research building."

Alan Shaver: "The possibilities are endless"

McGill Dean of Science Alan Shaver is not only hopeful that great discoveries will emerge from the new facilities, "I'm convinced," he says. "Construction of this new building will affect not only the health of Canadians. People everywhere will benefit. Scientists are on the threshold of a new era of integration of life sciences. With the construction of the Francesco Bellini Life Sciences Building, McGill researchers will be equipped with facilities they need to better understand health and diseases. Thanks to this new complex, we will reach higher levels of excellence and achievement than ever before."

A catalyzing gift

Dr. Bellini's donation not only served as the catalyst for the construction of McGill's new life sciences facility. His gift also encouraged two government organizations to fund a significant portion of the new building. The Canada Foundation for Innovation is providing $21.3 million, of which $12.8 million is earmarked towards the construction and $8.5 million towards equipping the life sciences building. A matching $21.3 million from the Government of Quebec will be divided in identical fashion. For the remaining construction costs, the University is awaiting approval of a requested $17.5 million grant from Quebec's Ministère de la Recherche, Science et Technologies (MRST).

Abraham Fuks: "Collaboration is the key to progress"

The unique organization and infrastructure of the Francesco Bellini Life Sciences Building are expected to bring interdisciplinary research to unprecedented levels. Investigators once separated by research fields or buildings will now collaborate under the same roof. What's more, the new facilities will be physically linked to McGill's existing McIntyre Medical Building and the Stewart Biology Building, which will foster increased cross-disciplinary breakthroughs.

"By sharing common space, investigators are sure to enrich and enhance one another's research," says McGill's Dean of Medicine, Abraham Fuks. "The Francesco Bellini Life Sciences Building will be an innovative address, where researchers from McGill and the MUHC will work closely together to develop new concepts that will lead to new treatments."

Emil Skamene: "A new era in research"

Emil Skamene, scientific director of the Research Institute of the MUHC, is also convinced the Francesco Bellini Life Sciences Building will change the face of research at McGill. "These new facilities will allow us to make a quantum leap in our science research, from the era of genomics and proteomics to a new postgenomic era of integrative biology," he says.

Building for the 21st century

At the dawn of the 21st century, the Francesco Bellini Life Sciences Building will serve as the training ground for the next generation of scientists. The facility will house integrated graduate programs and will become a major centre for the ongoing training of postdoctoral fellows.

"Thanks to Francesco Bellini's pioneering gift," says McGill Principal Bernard Shapiro, "McGill will continue its leadership role as a place where discoveries are made and scientific revolutions are launched."

Moreover, says Dr. Shapiro, the new building will assist Montreal and Quebec in establishing new partnerships. "The Francesco Bellini Life Sciences Building will act as a magnet for other research funding opportunities, for the recruitment of brilliant investigators and brilliant graduate students and postdoctoral fellows from around the world.

"McGill is proud to have been chosen by Dr. Bellini to continue to be at the forefront of life sciences, so that together we can prepare for the next wave of discoveries that will dramatically reshape the lives of all our fellow citizens."