Life 25th Anniversary Impact Document

The Evolving Story of Life

What makes Life truly special is the way in which the centre brings together researchers, clinicians and science communicators in one place, creating a vibrant space where amazing research happens today while inspiring the scientists of tomorrow. Science is something for all of us... and Life stands as an unmistakable reminder of that very simple truth.

Chi Onwurah, MP, Newcastle Central and West, Chair, Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee

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The International Centre for Life (Life) is a jewel in the North East’s crown. It has become an integral and much-loved part of the fabric of the city, attracting around half a million people annually to the services and activities offered on site.

It is an exciting, imaginative and eclectic mix: from clinics to an award-winning science centre, and from cutting-edge medical research to a vibrant programme of events in its outdoor space, Times Square. It has impacted the lives of many and is a source of great regional pride. Thousands of people, from local families, schools and businesspeople to Prime Ministers, Nobel Prize-winning scientists and astronauts, are passionate ambassadors for this unique site.

Life brings together scientists, clinicians, technologists and educationalists – all of whom are united by a passion for science and for improving people’s lives through groundbreaking research in health and wellbeing. There are around 500 people from over 30 countries working on site. Newcastle University and the Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust have achieved some notable firsts during their time on site – you can read about them more fully in this review.

Fiona Cruickshank (Chair)

At the heart of Life’s purpose is a desire to enrich lives through science so that people can discover its relevance to their own lives and young people can find a route to a better future through STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths). Life aspires to be the most accessible and inclusive visitor attraction in the UK and has earned an international reputation for its innovative work in creating a welcoming environment for all visitors.

Our trademark is hands-on interaction. Everyone learns best by doing and retains more of what they have learnt if the activities engage them intellectually and emotionally. We work with many partners to achieve this, from the worlds of academia, business, community and culture.

We live in a world that is shaped increasingly by developments in science and technology and the pace of change is accelerating. There is a real need to engage more actively and effectively with people, to explore science in a non-threatening environment and to encourage debate on a whole host of critical subjects that are affecting the lives of us all.

The past 25 years have been exciting and eventful, and we have no doubt that the next chapter in the Life story will be equally fascinating.

Linda Conlon (Chief Executive)

As Mayor, I’m determined to create opportunity where it is lacking, and it’s places like the Life Science Centre with its inspiring space engagement programme and outreach activities that I’m delighted to support. They can make a crucial difference to children’s futures and help the next generation aim for the stars - and enjoy a rewarding and fulfilling future right here in our region.

Kim McGuinness, Mayor, North East Combined Authority

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A Unique Concept Life’s purpose is to inspire everyone to explore and enjoy science and to provide a world class hub where life-enhancing engagement, research and clinical treatment can thrive.

Plans for Life were drawn up in the mid 1990s. The team was led by Alastair Balls from the former Tyne and Wear Development Corporation and included Life’s current Chief Executive, Linda Conlon, leading geneticist Professor Sir John Burn and author Matt Ridley. Together, they raised £60 million from multiple sources to steer ambition to reality. The project harnessed the collective strengths of the NHS and Newcastle University and focused on genetic science, a subject arousing increasing interest and raising ethical concerns amongst the public. The result is a vibrant science hub in the heart of Newcastle that is built on an unusual and effective business model.

The diversity and breadth of its income sources ensures that it can generate all its operating costs without relying on regular public subsidy.

The site has a rich history. In the 1700s it was home to Newcastle Infirmary, then a cattle market, before becoming an open-air car park. The iconic Life building, designed by North East architect Sir Terry Farrell, transformed what had become a semi-derelict area of the city’s West End (pictured below). Today, whether approaching the city by rail or road, or walking across the thoroughfare of Times Square, Life remains a striking presence and a much-loved Newcastle landmark. The listed Market Keeper’s House, designed

by John Dobson, still stands proudly on Times Square, a reminder of the city’s past set amidst the futurefacing science hub.

British scientists have dominated biology: Robert Harvey and the circulation of the blood, Mary Wortley Montague and inoculation, Charles Darwin and natural selection, Francis Crick and the double helix, Fred Sanger and gene sequencing, Robert Edwards and test-tube babies, Alec Jeffreys and DNA fingerprinting, Ian Wilmut and cloning, the Sanger Institute and 40% of the first human genome.

Creating the Centre for Life in the same year that human beings became the first creature in four billion years to read its own recipe has enabled the public for the first time to celebrate and explore this extraordinary story and what it promises for the future.

Tyneside was fixed on its historical past scientifically – Robert Stephenson, George Stephenson – but where did its scientific future lie? These were all questions that people were asking and Life was a way of bringing all of them together. It was a natural coalescence of interested parties to do some very exciting things.

Alastair Balls, Honorary President, Life

We are incredibly proud of our longstanding partnership with Life. Working together has supported ground-breaking research and played a vital role in bridging the gap between academia and the community, as well as recognising the unique contribution that both organisations make to engaging people in the North East with STEM. Professor Andy Long, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Northumbria University

Matt Ridley, author

It’s a big part of the North East ecosystem.

I’ve no doubt that it has got people in the city thinking about science who have never thought about it before.

Professor Chris Day, Vice-Chancellor, and President Newcastle University

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events have taken place in Times Square over the past 25 years, with an average of 4,500 attendees each year.

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Having a fully integrated academic and health service community means we draw on the strength of having that huge population in the North of England who are very supportive of giving their samples to research, and also the rigour of pure scientists who are trying to take it to the next level.

Enriching Lives through…

Research and Clinical Treatment Life is home to the NHS Northern Genetics Service, the John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre and the NHS Newcastle Fertility Centre. 360 scientists, researchers and clinicians from Newcastle University and the NHS work on site. Bringing research and clinical treatment together is one of Life’s strengths.

2003

2005

Human embryonic stem cells are produced for the first time in the UK.

Scientists at Life become the first group in the world to achieve therapeutic cloning to create human stem cells.

Scientists work with clinicians and patients to develop diagnostic tools and treatments that can directly improve people’s lives.

Find out more about research and treatment at Life

This has led to a number of world firsts which have made global headlines. Examples are shared below.

2009

In a world first, human sperm is created from embryonic stem cells.

The first ever egg-sharing scheme produces successful pregnancies.

2010

2012

2014

Scientists at Life begin international trials investigating how aspirin could reduce the risk of bowel cancer in patients with a family history of the disease. (Also see 2020.)

Stem cell research leads to a new treatment that reverses blindness in a patient in Newcastle.

By 2025, this treatment has restored the eyesight of more than 30 people.

Researchers announce a new treatment to help women with mitochondrial diseases have children without passing on the debilitating disease.

(Also see 2023.)

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Professor Sir John Burn, Professor of Clinical Genetics, Newcastle University

The John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre at Life opens. The centre leads in diagnosis, care and therapy for people living with rare muscular disorders.

2015

2017

2018

Scientists at Life are granted permission to carry out pioneering research to create stem cells from unfertilised human eggs for medical applications.

Diagnostic labs at Life become part of the National Genomic Medicine Service, a world-first service aiming to use genomic science and technology to improve the population’s health.

2020

2021

Life becomes the first science centre in the world to be used as a Covid-19 Large Vaccination Centre.

The international aspirin study demonstrates that the protective effect against bowel cancer lasts at least 10 years after stopping the treatment.

(Also see 2012.)

2023

2025

The number of babies born as a result of treatment at the NHS Fertility Centre at Life reaches 6000.

The first baby is born using donor mitochondria.

(Also see 2010.)

The first family diagnosis using data from the 100,000 Genomes Project (a nationwide initiative to discover the role our genes play in disease) is made in Newcastle.

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Enriching Lives through…

Research and Clinical Treatment

Fertility treatment often takes place in out-of-the-way places so being part of this vibrant community, in the heart of the city, is a hugely positive thing for our patients and our team. It’s a daily reminder of the wonders of science and the power of partnerships.

Dr Matthew Prior, Head of Department, Newcastle Fertility Centre

Life Story – the Perry family Jessie-May and Robert Perry have three children - Flora, and twins Kit and Mabel (pictured right) - all conceived thanks to IVF treatment received at Life.

The children relish the fact that Life is where they are from.

Being able to access world-leading treatment from the team at the fertility clinic, just ten minutes away from home, allowed Jessie-May and Robert to start a family and they now take every opportunity to speak about their experience and to help challenge the stigma surrounding infertility.

Read more of Jessie-May and Robert’s story

Life Story - Ella-Joy Hunton Ella-Joy Hunton (pictured left as a baby) was an IVF baby conceived at Life and born in 2000.

As part of what she calls the club of ‘magic science babies’, Ella-Joy would proudly tell her school friends where she came from.

Now, having completed a master’s degree in midwifery, she helps families welcome new arrivals into the world, including the next generation of IVF babies.

Read more of Ella-Joy’s story 10 The Evolving Story of Life

Life Story – Stephanie Tanner Just two weeks before Stephanie Tanner’s son Freddie was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, the world’s first treatment was approved after clinical trials at Life.

Freddie received treatment at the John Walton Centre which stopped the progression of the disease, and he now attends a mainstream school.

When Stephanie’s third child Louis was also found to be a carrier of the disease, a single session of gene therapy stopped him from developing the condition altogether.

Now, Stephanie (pictured above with her family) is a nurse specialist at the John Walton Centre at Life, supporting families facing similar experiences.

Read more of Stephanie’s story

The lab space was excellent and the architecture was conducive for groundbreaking collaborative genomic research that really made a difference to the lives of people in the North East. It is great to see Life going from strength to strength.

Professor Patrick Chinnery, Executive Chair, Medical Research Council, and former Life Trustee

560,000

people each year access the services and facilities on site.

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Enriching Lives through…

Life works with urban and rural schools, all shapes and sizes of family, and underserved communities, reaching many young people who never would have considered a job in STEM as ‘for them’, and igniting the vital spark that raises aspirations and ambitions and showcases the breadth of jobs available.

At the heart of the site is the educational visitor attraction, Life Science Centre, the region’s only contemporary science centre.

As well as welcoming thousands of families every year, the science centre’s school programme offers exciting, relevant and interactive STEM experiences that cannot easily be replicated in the classroom.

The setting of the science centre, within a working science village, also provides access to inspirational role models for the next generation of STEM professionals.

Engagement with Science

When the centre first opened, the focus was on the then-emerging science of genetics. Today, Life embraces a broad range of STEM and the areas of space, climate and early years engagement are of particular importance.

Life has a unique approach to engaging audiences with science. It offers family-friendly hands-on exhibits, inspiring live shows and the region’s most advanced planetarium, as well as curriculum-linked schools’ workshops and special events for adults and pre-schoolers.

Life provides huge amounts of pleasure, education and inspiration, especially for young people.

Bill Bryson, author and former Chancellor, Durham University

Life aspires to be the most accessible and inclusive visitor attraction in the UK and has earned an international reputation for its innovative work in creating a welcoming environment for all visitors.

It’s a mindset that is embedded in the culture of Life and every team member lives and breathes this philosophy.

Life is a jewel in the region’s crown – a place that fosters creativity, increases scientific literacy and inspires future scientists.

Find out more about Life’s schools’ programme and its approach to space and climate.

Professor Peter Higgs, Nobel Prize-winning particle physicist

At Lockheed Martin we know how vital it is that we inspire the next generation about the future career opportunities that space can offer them. The role played by Life in showcasing to these young people the very real possibilities in the sector which are within their grasp is key to us building a robust industry in the UK. Life’s programme of exciting activities such as its planetarium shows, replica ISS and Mission Control exhibits, coupled with their workshops, aligns perfectly with our own STEM activities which hopefully give youngsters a real understanding of the space sector and opens their eyes to how they can be part of it.

Ben Shaw, Head, Operations and Capture – Space, Lockheed Martin

Visitors to the Space Zone at Life have a truly wonderful resource that will help to create a brighter future for everyone and enable us all to really enjoy being part of this vast and beautiful universe.

Helen Sharman, Britain’s first astronaut

It is vital we support the development of new skills and nurture future talent to take up the job opportunities in the fast-growing space sector.

Life plays an important role by delivering hands-on experiences and educational activities to local communities, igniting ambition in the young people who will be part of this success story.

Olivia Masters, Head, Programmes Delivery, Geospatial UK, Airbus

250,000

people visit Life Science Centre each year.

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Life Story Z King

Life Story Edina Trust

Z King is a young autism advocate who, along with their mother Nic, has worked with Life to make the science centre more accessible to those with autism and sensory needs.

The Edina Trust is one of Life’s longest-standing funders, contributing over a quarter of a million pounds to science outreach programmes since 2007. Edina-funded activities target schools that would otherwise find it difficult to visit Life due to rural isolation or serving communities with many low-income families. Nearly 400 primary schools and 10,000 pupils have been involved in workshops and visits to Life.

Together they’ve helped create a sensory story for the site, developed sensory bags, and worked with Community Liaison Manager David Jones (pictured below with Z) to build a culture and ethos of inclusion for the venue, its exhibitions, shows and its work with schools.

Z first became involved in helping Life when attending a science club run in partnership with the North East Autism Society. Following that, the team asked Z to speak at a conference to share their experience of accessing venues like Life. This led to a longer-term role in making practical changes to Life to make the visitor experience more inclusive.

Life takes accessibility and inclusion very seriously. It was evident that this is part of the Life culture from top to bottom.

Andrew Marchbank, category judge, NE Tourism Awards 2023

Read more of Z’s story

Over time, this has developed into a multi-engagement programme where classes receive a visit to school as well as a trip to the science centre, an online chat with North East-based scientists and classroom resources.

Read more of The Edina Trust’s story Getting kids interested in science is invaluable and Life Science Centre is brilliant at it.

From the enthusiastic staff to the wonderful exhibitions and workshops, it’s a great space to help show people how much fun science can be.

Steph McGovern, television presenter

Life Story – West End Schools’ Trust The West End Schools’ Trust is a partnership of nine primary schools in Newcastle’s West End, representing nearly 3,000 pupils, from a diverse and often challenging environment. The Trust has partnered with Life since 2015, starting with regular science clubs and expanding into a STEMtastic programme which allows all Year 6 pupils to visit Life and hear from the team and those working in science.

The partnership has helped the Trust’s schools to build an enthusiasm for science amongst their pupils, and showcase the opportunities available in STEM.

Read more of West End Schools’ Trust’s story Life is a place for everyone, and I think they’ve really nailed that.

Helen Thomson, West End Schools’ Trust

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regional, national and international awards, including eight for accessibility and inclusion.

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50,000

educational experiences delivered to school pupils each year.

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Life Family Album Life Science Centre has helped people make amazing memories for a quarter of a century.

Planetarium WEST Science Club

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Life brought this annual festival of making, crafting and tinkering to the UK, attracting makers and visitors from across the globe. 2009-2018.

This brings together nine schools to increase children’s confidence and practical skills with science. 10,000 interactive hours have been delivered.

Started 2015.

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Here, visitors experience what it’s like to be a scientist, complete with real lab coats, goggles, tools and materials.

Opened 2015.

This international exhibition by German anatomist Dr Gunther von Hagens was shown for the first time in the UK at Life and led to record visitor numbers. 2014.

This hands-on exhibition explores the impact space technology has on our everyday lives and how the future of space exploration is being shaped in the North East. Opened 2020.

This partnership has led to improved visitor experience, increased team understanding of neurodiversity and awards including the inaugural Gold Plus Standard. Started 2018.

Inspired by the success of Maker Faire UK, this popular space encourages visitors of all ages to create, learn and have fun. Opened 2019.

Experiment Zone

Body Worlds Vital

Space Zone

North East Autism Society Partnership

Life’s 360° immersive dome is the biggest and most advanced in the region. The in-house team write and produce a range of shows, including What Santa Sees, which has been purchased by planetaria around the world. Opened 2005.

Making Studios

Wow Zone

As well as being fun and engaging, the hands-on exhibits explore forces, chemistry and physics. Opened 2023.

Play Zone and the under-7s programme This captivating area is designed for under-7s. Pre-School Days have been popular for over 15 years.

The in-house team also develops shows like Little Bear for younger visitors. Opened 2011.

Science Speakeasy

In this series for adults, important and controversial topics are debated in a quirky and irreverent way.

Launched 2018.

Gaia

Created by UK artist Luke Jerram, Gaia uses detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface to provide a unique view of our planet. Installed 2021.

Lightbox

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major exhibitions have been hosted

by Life, including Body Worlds and Game On.

This new interactive collection of exhibits explores light, sound and water phenomena. Highlights include a simulated water game created by BAFTA-winning studio Preloaded and an amazing 8m tall String Wave (pictured left), created by UK-based light artist Paul Friedlander. Opened May 2025.

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Naga Munchetty, BBC Lockdown Live: What Next?, broadcast from Life, 2021.

Rory Cellan-Jones, BBC Technology Correspondent (left) with Life Community Liaison Manager David Jones, 2018.

Chris Hadfield, Canadian astronaut, 2015.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, officially opening Life Science Centre with Alastair Balls (left) and Linda Conlon (right), 2000.

James Watson, Nobel Prize-winning geneticist and Life Patron, 2009.

Bill Bryson, author and former Chancellor, Durham University, 2004.

Jonathan Dimbleby, live broadcast of Radio 4’s Any Questions?, with Linda Conlon, 2018.

Professor Peter Higgs, Nobel Prize-winning particle physicist, 2016.

Stella Rimington, former head of MI5, 2022.

NASA’s final shuttle crew of space Atlantis STS-132, 2010.

Authors Steven Pinker (right) and Matt Ridley, 2002.

Helen Sharman, Britain’s first astronaut (right), launching Space Zone, with Linda Conlon, 2020.

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HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh with Professor Sir John Burn (far right), 2000.

Gordon Brown, former PM, 2007.

Carol Vorderman, presenter, at Life’s opening day, 2000.

Lord Robert Winston, scientist and presenter, opening Play Zone, 2011.

Richard Dawkins, author, (left) presenting 10th anniversary lecture, with author Matt Ridley, 2010.

David Cameron, former PM, 2011.

Tim Peake, British astronaut, 2021.

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Tony Blair, former PM, and Linda Conlon, 2002.

Michael Foale, British-American astronaut and astrophysicist, 2021.

Steph McGovern, television presenter, 2019.

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This is YOUR Life!

Life is proud to be an integral part of the cultural and social fabric of the region.

We are grateful to the many people who have helped make it happen, and continue to be part of the Life story.

To all our visitors, partners and supporters – thank you!

Find out how to support us

International Centre for Life, Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4EP Telephone: (0191) 243 8210 Email: info@life.org.uk Website: life.org.uk