The new £64m integrated clinical research innovation centre is led by Queen’s University Belfast in partnership with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and the Health and Social Care Research and Development Division of the Public Health Agency.

Set to open in 2027, iREACH Health will be situated in two buildings beside the Belfast City Hospital. The innovation centre, delivered through the Belfast Region City Deal with funding from the Northern Ireland Executive and UK Government, and part-funded by Queen’s, will become a cornerstone of Northern Ireland’s life sciences innovation ecosystem. 

Celerion’s Belfast clinic has a history of clinical research excellence spanning more than 30 years, marked by continual growth, expanding capabilities, and strong partnerships with academic and medical institutions. Relocating to iREACH Health positions Celerion at the forefront of clinical research innovation, facilitating collaboration across government, industry, and academia to advance novel therapies for patients in need. 

The state-of-the-art iREACH Health centre will include a 100-bed Phase 1 facility designed to Celerion’s specifications, equipped to support its UK team, including a highly experienced full service data management and biometrics group. This team of early development experts specialises in adaptive study design, protocol development, clinical data sciences, pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic analysis, and statistical reporting – delivering data-driven insights that reduce risk and optimise trial outcomes.

Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University, said: “This new collaboration with Celerion will be transformative for our ability to attract and deliver clinical trials in Northern Ireland. Clinical research is transforming lives every day and iREACH Health will help enable new, innovative clinical research to take place for the benefit of our society.” 

Professor Judy Bradley, Director of iREACH Health, highlighted the innovation centre’s vision: “Our aim is to deliver agile, people-centred clinical trials that are innovative, data-driven, and digitally-enabled. We are delighted to work with Celerion to advance those plans and tackle some of Northern Ireland’s most pressing healthcare challenges. This partnership with Celerion will help deliver significant benefits for the region, driving advancements in healthcare whilst supporting economic and social outcomes.” 

“We’re thrilled to build on our long-standing relationship with Queen’s University Belfast by relocating to this world-class centre,” said Phil Bach, Celerion’s Executive Vice President of Global Clinical Research. “Our new home at iREACH Health will enhance the speed and efficiency of our Phase 1 clinical trials, supporting our clients in accelerating drug development timelines.”

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For media enquiries, please contact Dominic Lyttle: d.lyttle@qub.ac.uk