The Hopkins Building, on the University of Reading's Whiteknights campus, was formally opened today by Kelvin Hopkins MP, son of the renowned British physicist, Harold Horace Hopkins FRS.
The £17 million building, which will be home to the University's new facilities for biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences, is named after Professor Hopkins, who invented rod-lens endoscopes that led to the development of modern key-hole surgery and who held the Chair in Optics at the University from 1967 until 1984.
The prestigious and architecturally striking new facility seeks to emulate Professor Hopkins' reputation in biomedical research, housing multi-disciplinary activities focussing on the University's key areas of expertise in the biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences. The University's new Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research ( ICMR ) will be based in the Hopkins Building, alongside researchers in Pharmacology. This multidisciplinary centre brings together scientists from a wide range of research fields to work to understand the development of cardiovascular diseases, and the underlying obesity-related metabolic diseases from which they develop.
Professor Gordon Marshall, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said: "We are thrilled by the completion of this new building, which forms part of the University of Reading's major investment in state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities, to enhance the academic environment for our staff and students. It demonstrates our commitment to developing further our ability to undertake internationally important research, providing answers to society's challenges and improving lives across the globe.
"In opening the building today, we are also delighted to honour Professor Harold Hopkins, whose talent for theoretical maths and physics combined with an inventive genius led him to achieve significant life changing contributions to society himself."
The opening was attended by the family of Professor Hopkins, including his widow, Mrs Christine Hopkins, and son, the MP for Luton, Kelvin Hopkins. The Worshipful Mayor of Wokingham and the Right Worshipful Mayor of Reading, as well as Reading East MP Rob Wilson also toured the new building, along with alumni of the University, stakeholders, staff and research students.
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