Pears Building

The Pears Building provides UCL immunologists with state-of-the-art laboratories next to the Royal Free Hospital. This enables patient-focused research to take place.

Since opening in 2021, this impressive building and its facilities have attracted further world-class immunologists, boosting the number of scientists from 120 to 160.

This has established the Institute of Immunity and Transplantation (IIT) as one of the largest centres for immune system research in Europe.

Enabling world class research

Scientists at the Pears Building study diseases such as cancer, diabetes, HIV, and hepatitis, as well as new therapies to stop the rejection of transplants.

We run internationally leading translational research projects involving patients with liver and kidney cancer, transplant patients, patients with type 1 diabetes or multiple sclerosis, patients suffering from Sars-Cov-2, hepatitis B virus, HIV or CMV infection, and patients with inherited defects of their immune system.

We are committed to delivering translational research for the benefit of patients. Researchers, clinicians, and patients work together to gain new knowledge of the causes of disease.

We translate this knowledge into new medicines and therapies that are tested in clinical trials performed at the newly established Clinical Trials Facility at the adjacent Royal Free Hospital.

The Royal Free Hospital provides first class clinical care for our patients, and IIT scientists generate knowledge and innovation that can lead to new and better treatments.

Another of our important missions is training the next generation of immunologists. Students perform cutting-edge research projects here in their pursuit of BSc, MSc, or PhD degrees.

Asset for the local community

The Pears Building was designed by Hopkins Architects and constructed by Willmott Dixon. The seven-story building provides:

• laboratory space of the immunologists of the IIT
• offices for the Royal Free Charity
• a café open to the public
• accommodation for patients treated at the Royal Free Hospital and/or participating in clinical trials.

The public walkway in front of the Pears Building has been replaced, with new landscaping providing an enjoyable local setting.

The Pears Building has won several awards, including RIBA London 2023 Regional Award, Civic Trust 2023 Highly Commended Award and American Institute of Architects Large Projects Award.

The Mileto Caffè

Open six days a week, the Mileto Caffè in the Pears Building invites the public to share the beautifully designed atrium space with scientists.

An innovative sculpture by contemporary artist David Rickard hangs from the ceiling. This symbolises the link between people, restraints, and the fundamental biology that underpins how our immune system works.

It captures the spirit of the Pears Building and the work that we do here.

Donations

The Pears Building has been enabled by a productive partnership between UCL, the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Free Charity.

We have received generous donations from the Pears Foundation, the Wolfson Foundation, the N. Sethia Foundation, and the Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust.

We are grateful to all the donors who have supported the construction of the Pears Building.