#London #UK #H.I.G. Realty #Barts Health #NHS Trust

H.I.G. Realty and Barts Health NHS Trust Launch the Barts Life Sciences Project

On January 19, 2026, a groundbreaking partnership was announced between H.I.G. Capital, a leading global alternative investment firm managing $74 billion in capital, and Barts Health NHS Trust, one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK. This collaboration will pave the way for the first building of the Barts Life Sciences Cluster located on Cavell Street in Whitechapel, London.

This project represents a significant step in health innovation, merging the expertise of clinicians, researchers, and industry leaders to cultivate new collaborative models in healthcare. Spanning an impressive footprint of 170,000 square feet, the initiative aims to enhance the integration of clinical excellence with commercial proficiency, setting a precedent for future advancements in applied health innovation in East London.

The new center on Cavell Street will serve as a collaborative hub bringing together companies, doctors, and researchers specifically from Barts Health. Their goal is to develop, test, and refine next-generation technologies across fields such as medical technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital health. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to foster an environment where health tech and life science companies work alongside staff from the Royal London Hospital and other Barts Health hospitals to innovate and validate technologies within real clinical settings.

A key objective of this project is to streamline the transition from prototype development to patient care, thereby boosting the UK's capacity for NHS-integrated innovations. Shane DeGaris, Group CEO of Barts Health NHS Trust, emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating that it brings together clinicians, patients, industry, and scientific research in unprecedented ways. The Cavell Street project is a promising start that will help realize the ambition of creating environments where innovations can be shaped and tested directly by NHS teams in clinical settings.

Jérôme Fouillé, Managing Director of H.I.G. Realty in Europe, expressed excitement about the collaboration, noting that the Cavell Street development will provide a new platform for global companies to work directly with NHS clinicians, reinforcing the cluster's position as a leading center for applied health innovation.

Overview of the Barts Life Science Cluster

Located in Whitechapel, East London, the Barts Life Sciences Cluster, anchored by the Royal London Hospital, is focused on developing a world-class ecosystem that blends clinical, research, innovation, and commercial activities in medical technology, AI, digital health, and therapeutics. This cluster integrates the expertise of the Royal London Hospital, renowned for its clinical excellence and diverse patient base, with the research capabilities of Queen Mary University of London. Its mission is to accelerate the development and adoption of innovations that promote inclusive economic growth while enhancing health outcomes for patients in East London and beyond.

About Barts Health NHS Trust

Barts Health NHS Trust, with an annual revenue of £2.5 billion and a workforce exceeding 20,000 personnel, ranks among the top healthcare providers in the UK. With five hospitals including the historic St Bartholomew's Hospital and the Royal London Hospital, Barts Health delivers high-quality care to over 2.5 million residents in East London and beyond, facilitating the birth of over 14,000 babies annually and treating more than 7,000 patients every day.

About H.I.G. Capital

Founded in 1993, H.I.G. Capital has invested in over 400 companies worldwide. Their diverse portfolio spans across various sectors with a firm commitment to enhancing value through proactive management. H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity funding, primarily focusing on small and mid-sized businesses. Their strategic investments encompass management buyouts, recapitalizations, and distressed opportunities, aiming to restore financial health and growth.

As the Barts Life Sciences project takes shape, it signifies a new era of collaboration aimed at transforming healthcare delivery and stimulating economic opportunities in the region.