National Institute for Biological Standards and Control
Encyclopedia
The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) is a global leader in the field of biological standardisation. It is a centre of the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA)
. It is responsible for developing and producing over 90% of the biological international standards in use around the world. The Institute is the UK's Official Medicines Control Laboratory (OMCL), responsible for testing of biological medicines within the framework of the European Union . It is also the UK's main research centre in the field of pandemic flu. It is situated just east of junction 23 of the M25
. Half of the building is in Ridge, and the eastern half is in the parish of South Mimms
.
. A site was selected and the new £25m building opened in 1987, although it was officially opened in 1988. It has 4,500 square metres of laboratories. NIBSC employs around 300 staff, 200 of whom are scientists.
In February 2008, it featured in a thirty minute programme on BBC Radio 4
in the Secret Science two-part series (the other programme was about the Health Protection Agency
's Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response at Porton Down
).
In April 2009, NIBSC became centre of the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA)
's International Standards for substances such as antibiotics, enzymes, antibodies
and hormones, and methods such as blood transfusion
s. These standards form a vital part of global health efforts and pharmaceutical research, and over 10,000 standards a month are shipped worldwide.
It is the UK's Official Medicines Control Laboratory.
Health Protection Agency
The Health Protection Agency, or, in Welsh, Yr Asiantaeth Diogelu Iechyd is a statutory corporation. It is an independent UK organisation that was set up by the government in 2003 to protect the public from threats to their health from infectious diseases and environmental hazards...
. It is responsible for developing and producing over 90% of the biological international standards in use around the world. The Institute is the UK's Official Medicines Control Laboratory (OMCL), responsible for testing of biological medicines within the framework of the European Union . It is also the UK's main research centre in the field of pandemic flu. It is situated just east of junction 23 of the M25
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
. Half of the building is in Ridge, and the eastern half is in the parish of South Mimms
South Mimms
South Mimms, sometimes spelt South Mymms, is a village and civil parish forming part of the Hertsmere district of Hertfordshire County Council in the East of England although geographically and historically is in the County of Middlesex.-History:...
.
History
The NIBSC began work in May 1972. The National Biological Standards Board was formed in 1975 at the NIMR in Mill HillMill Hill
Mill Hill is a place in the London Borough of Barnet. It is a suburb situated 9 miles north west of Charing Cross. Mill Hill was in the historic county of Middlesex until it was absorbed by London...
. A site was selected and the new £25m building opened in 1987, although it was officially opened in 1988. It has 4,500 square metres of laboratories. NIBSC employs around 300 staff, 200 of whom are scientists.
In February 2008, it featured in a thirty minute programme on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
in the Secret Science two-part series (the other programme was about the Health Protection Agency
Health Protection Agency
The Health Protection Agency, or, in Welsh, Yr Asiantaeth Diogelu Iechyd is a statutory corporation. It is an independent UK organisation that was set up by the government in 2003 to protect the public from threats to their health from infectious diseases and environmental hazards...
's Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response at Porton Down
Porton Down
Porton Down is a United Kingdom government and military science park. It is situated slightly northeast of Porton near Salisbury in Wiltshire, England. To the northwest lies the MoD Boscombe Down test range facility which is operated by QinetiQ...
).
In April 2009, NIBSC became centre of the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA)
Health Protection Agency
The Health Protection Agency, or, in Welsh, Yr Asiantaeth Diogelu Iechyd is a statutory corporation. It is an independent UK organisation that was set up by the government in 2003 to protect the public from threats to their health from infectious diseases and environmental hazards...
Function
It produces over 90% of the WHOWorld Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
's International Standards for substances such as antibiotics, enzymes, antibodies
Antibody
An antibody, also known as an immunoglobulin, is a large Y-shaped protein used by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses. The antibody recognizes a unique part of the foreign target, termed an antigen...
and hormones, and methods such as blood transfusion
Blood transfusion
Blood transfusion is the process of receiving blood products into one's circulation intravenously. Transfusions are used in a variety of medical conditions to replace lost components of the blood...
s. These standards form a vital part of global health efforts and pharmaceutical research, and over 10,000 standards a month are shipped worldwide.
It is the UK's Official Medicines Control Laboratory.
Facilities
New buildings for the UK Stem Cell Bank (which has been on the site since May 19, 2004 and was Europe's first stem cell bank) and Influenza Resource Centre are to be built on the site in a £12m development by Morgan Ashurst, being opened in December 2009.See also
- European Directorate for the Quality of MedicinesEuropean Directorate for the Quality of MedicinesThe European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines of the Council of Europe came into being in its current form in 1996. It consists of the Technical Secretariat of the European Pharmacopoeia Commission long referred to as the European Pharmacopoeia set up in 1964 by the European Pharmacopoeia...
- European Medicines AgencyEuropean Medicines AgencyThe European Medicines Agency is a European agency for the evaluation of medicinal products. From 1995 to 2004, the European Medicines Agency was known as European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products.Roughly parallel to the U.S...
- National Institute for Medical ResearchNational Institute for Medical ResearchThe National Institute for Medical Research, commonly abbreviated to NIMR, is a medical research facility situated in Mill Hill, on the outskirts of London, England. It is mainly funded by the Medical Research Council, or MRC, and is its largest establishment and the only one designated as an...
(NIMR)
News items
- Genetic discovery in May 2009
- Stem Cell Bank opens in May 2004
- Stem Cell Bank announced in September 2002