News
LDC-backed Panthera expands Glasgow clinical research capacity with new centre at Health Innovation Hub
10 Nov 2026
Purpose-built facility will support delivery of Phase II and III trials and broaden participation across Glasgow and the west of Scotland.
Panthera, the UK’s largest independent clinical trial Site Management Organisation (SMO), has officially opened its expanded Glasgow Clinical Research Centre at the Health Innovation Hub (HiH), increasing capacity for commercial clinical research in Scotland. HiH which opened in March is Glasgow’s newest state-of-the-art life sciences laboratory facility developed and operated by Kadans Science Partner.
The opening, held on Thursday 22nd October, brought together representatives from healthcare, clinical research, academia, government and industry. Dr Zubir Ahmed MP, Member of Parliament for Glasgow South West, attended as Guest of Honour.
The purpose-built centre comprises eight dedicated clinical rooms, laboratory facilities and modern office space, supporting the delivery of clinical trials on behalf of pharmaceutical sponsors and contract research organisations (CROs).
Panthera relocated its Glasgow operations from the Clinical Innovation Zone at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital earlier this year. The expanded facility will increase opportunities for eligible patients across Glasgow and the west of Scotland to participate in research, including studies of investigational treatments that are not yet routinely available.
During the opening, Dr Ahmed spoke about the role of clinical research infrastructure in maintaining Scotland’s position in medical research. Guests toured the facility and met the Panthera team to discuss trial delivery and opportunities to broaden patient participation.
Dr Zubir Ahmed MP, Member of Parliament for Glasgow South West, said: “It was a pleasure to join Panthera to celebrate the opening of its expanded clinical research centre in Glasgow South West. I have first-hand experience of Glasgow’s proud history of medical innovation. Investment in facilities like this helps ensure our city remains at the forefront of developing new treatments and improving healthcare. Clinical research has the potential to make a real difference to people’s lives, and it is particularly encouraging to see opportunities for patients in our local communities to participate in trials that could help shape the future of medicine.”
I welcome Panthera’s continued investment in Glasgow and the contribution this facility will make to our city’s growing life sciences sector.”
Panthera specialises in undertaking phase two and three 3 trials for the pharma industry across a broad range of therapeutic areas including vaccines, cardiovascular medicine, diabetes, neurology, respiratory medicine, dermatology, rheumatology, early dementia and other preventative treatment studies. Panthera continues to expand its network and is now also the largest provider in Hungary.
Stuart Young, CEO of Panthera, commented: “We are delighted to celebrate the official opening of our expanded Glasgow centre alongside colleagues and partners from across Scotland’s healthcare and life sciences community.”
Glasgow has an outstanding reputation for medical research and innovation. This investment increases our capacity to deliver commercial clinical trials and reflects our confidence in the city’s research expertise.”
Stuart continues: “Our priority is to help pharmaceutical sponsors and CROs recruit more eligible patients quickly, meeting and exceeding enrolment targets—a critical factor in keeping clinical development programmes on schedule. Our expanded Glasgow centre combines increased capacity with an experienced research team to accelerate recruitment, broaden patient access and deliver high-quality studies. This investment forms part of our wider growth across the UK and Europe, where Panthera has recently become Hungary’s largest independent clinical trial site management organisation.”
Part of Glasgow’s life sciences infrastructure
The centre is located within the Health Innovation Hub, a purpose-built life sciences facility developed and operated by Kadans Science Partner in collaboration with the Living Laboratory for Precision Medicine, a University of Glasgow-led programme.
The Health Innovation Hub brings together organisations across healthcare, research and innovation, supporting collaboration within Glasgow’s life sciences sector.
Katie Nelson, Head of Leasing (UK) for Kadans Science Partner, said: “Panthera’s expanded Glasgow centre is a great example of how specialist facilities can support the growth of Scotland’s life sciences sector while delivering real benefits for local communities. At Kadans, we’re proud to provide an environment where organisations like Panthera can expand their work, collaborate with partners and help make clinical research more accessible to patients. The Health Innovation Hub brings together expertise across healthcare, research and industry, creating the conditions for innovation to thrive. Panthera’s further investment is a positive step for Glasgow, strengthening the city’s clinical research capabilities and reinforcing its reputation as a leading destination for life sciences.”
The Glasgow expansion forms part of Panthera’s continued investment in its UK network of dedicated clinical research centres, alongside its expansion into Europe.
The company aims to increase trial delivery capacity, broaden patient recruitment and support the generation of clinical evidence across a range of medical conditions.