Gift funds plant research centre

The new building with be in an area of the Botanic Garden.

An £82m donation is to help pay for a new research laboratory for the study of plant development at the University of Cambridge.

The award, from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, will fund the building in an area of the Botanic Garden.

Due for completion in 2010, the Sainsbury Laboratory will house 120 scientists, and 30 additional staff.

It will also house the Herbarium, which contains one million pressed and dried plant specimens from across the world.

These include those collected by Charles Darwin on the Beagle voyage.

Inspirational research

Professor Alison Richard said: "Cambridge has a strong record in the study of plant biology - a science which is now accepted as critical for our planet.

"This makes the Gatsby Foundation's gift to the university both natural and transformational - we are truly grateful."

Lord Sainsbury, founder of the Gatsby Foundation, said: "This is one of the most exciting projects with which my Charitable Foundation has been involved.

"It combines an inspirational research programme, an historic site in the Botanic Garden and a beautiful laboratory designed by Stanton Williams.

"I believe it will soon become a world-class centre of excellent plant science."