London Fights Back: New Centre To Tackle Million-Life Global Health Threat

A terrifying global health threat that already claims over a million lives a year is being targeted by a new, world-leading centre.
Right here in London, on the very ground where penicillin was discovered, the Fleming Centre is set to rise.

The Fightback Begins

Plans for the Fleming Centre at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington have just been given the green light by Westminster City Council. This centre will be the main base for the Fleming Initiative, a joint effort by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Imperial College London.

It’s the first in a planned global network of hubs aiming to tackle the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The centre is due to open in 2028, marking 100 years since Sir Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin at the very same site.

Professor Lord Ara Darzi, Executive Chair of the Fleming Initiative, called the approval a "defining moment" in the fight against AMR.

"Almost a hundred years ago, in a modest laboratory at St Mary's, Alexander Fleming opened the antibiotic era," he said. "Today, that era is under threat. AMR already claims over a million lives a year, risking a century of medical progress."

History Inspires the Future

The new centre isn't just a building; it's a mission statement. Professor Darzi explained: "The Fleming Centre is our answer. It will bring scientists, clinicians, patients, policymakers and the public into the same rooms, asking the important questions – part discovery engine, part public square, part living laboratory."

He added: "That this Centre rises on the very ground where penicillin was discovered is not sentiment. It is intent. Where Fleming began, we begin again – this time, with the world watching."

Professor Tim Orchard, Group Chief Executive for Imperial College Healthcare, highlighted St Mary’s proud history of breakthroughs. He added: "This is a significant moment for the Fleming Centre and the fight against AMR, which will build on St Mary’s Hospital’s proud history of research, innovation and medical breakthroughs."

What to Expect Inside

The six-storey building, designed by Stanton Williams, will mix top-tier scientific research labs with public engagement spaces. This includes exhibitions and a café, designed to put science directly on show.

The project involves transforming 19th-century warehouses, keeping important historic features. It will also be a sustainable facility, built to NHS net zero carbon standards.

Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London, stressed the power of teamwork. He noted: "Establishing the Fleming Centre at the heart of Paddington Life Sciences will provide the ideal environment to enable rapid advances in AMR."

Matt Tulley, Redevelopment Director at Imperial College Healthcare, said the centre will create "a modern, inclusive space where research, clinical expertise and public engagement come together to address one of the most pressing health challenges of our time."

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OFFICIAL SOURCE VERIFICATION: This report is based on official data from University Newsroom. Document: [Planning approval for new Fleming Centre at St Mary's Hospital](https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/articles/2026/planning-approval-for-new-fleming-centre-at-st-marys-hospital/)