THE director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO) was among the guests at the opening of a state-of-the-art research hub at Edinburgh University today, even as bosses there plough ahead with £140 million in cuts.

Joined by Scotland Secretary Ian Murray and Maree Todd, the Scottish government’s minister for drug and alcohol policy, as well as University of Edinburgh staff and students, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the new Usher Building as a “major step forward” in improving health and social care.

The new centre, located in Edinburgh’s BioQuarter, will host more than 900 researchers, health and care providers and industry leaders, studying issues such as the ageing population, widening health inequalities and childhood wellbeing.

Speaking ahead of the event, at which the WHO director-general was honoured with the university’s inaugural Edinburgh Prize for Global Health Impact, Dr Tedros said: “For hundreds of years, the University of Edinburgh has been a revered centre of learning and research.

“With the Usher Building’s opening, the university is future-proofing that proud heritage by embracing the latest medical innovations, artificial intelligence and data analysis to contribute to making a healthier world.”

Welcoming the £49.2m capital investment in the building from the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, comprising £48.5m from the Westminister government and £0.7m from the Scottish government, University of Edinburgh principal and vice-chancellor Professor Sir Peter Mathieson said: “The Usher Building is a major step forward for the University of Edinburgh, and wider society, in reimagining how we improve health and social care.

“By bringing together researchers, clinicians and industry experts, we have created a dynamic hub that will drive innovation for the benefit of all.”

The opening took place less than a week after the first day of strike action by members of the University and College Union (UCU) over Prof Mathieson’s plans to slash £140m from the institution’s annual budget, which the union warned could lead to a staggering 1,800 jobs being lost.

Last week, local UCU branch president Sophia Woodman warned: “Staff are stunned to see university senior management pressing ahead with plans to spend vast sums on public relations consultants and increase spending on buildings while cutting the staff who teach students and carry out world-leading research.

“Even at this late stage, it's not too late for the university to rule out the use of compulsory redundancies and end this dispute.”