HEALTH bosses have revealed plans to build the UK’s first purpose-built transplant centre in the North-East.

The Institute of Transplantation, to be built alongside the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, will cost about £30m and is expected to be open by 2011.

The aim is to dramatically improve the number of heart, lung, kidney, pancreas and liver transplants.

The institute is expected to encourage advances in transplant techniques and become one of the leading centres in England for the trial of transplant- related drugs, which could be tested on North-East patients first.

The expansion will mean extra surgeons, consultants and other health professionals will be needed.

The development fits in with a national drive to increase organ donations and the number of transplants.

Last week, the NHS said that the number of people on the organ donor register had doubled within seven years.

Sixteen million people – more than a quarter of the UK population – have signed up to offer their organs if they die. Since January 2001, 23,551 life-saving organ transplants have been carried out.

During the same period, at least 4,500 people died while awaiting a suitable organ.

In the UK, there are 8,000 people waiting for a life-saving transplant.

Professor Paul Corris, from the Freeman Hospital, said the aim was to increase the number of transplants, boost research and give patients a better quality of life.

Researchers at the Freeman are already exploring ways to improve the quality of donated organs.

Scientists in Newcastle have developed a way of reconditioning damaged lungs for transplant.

Prof Corris said: “There is no reason why this approach could not be extended to other organs.”

Last year, staff at the Freeman carried out 58 adult heart and lung transplants, 15 child heart and lung transplants, with 88 patients on the heart and lung waiting list.

There were 124 kidney transplants last year, with 314 people waiting for donated kidneys.