Royal Free Charity | The Pears Building

The Pears Building

Royal Free Charity chief executive, Jon Spiers cutting the ribbon at the opening of the Pears Building. He is joined by Professor Hans Stauss, director, UCL Institute of Immunity and Transplantation (IIT) and Caroline Clarke, former chief executive of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
The Royal Free Charity led the £60million project to deliver the Pears Building, the home of the UCL Institute of Immunity and Transplantation (IIT), one of the largest patient-focused immunology centres in Europe. 

What it does

  • One of a handful of such research facilities in the world and one of the largest in Europe
  • Leading research into better treatments and potential cures for cancer, diabetes, HIV and tuberculosis
  • Speeding up the pathway from laboratory bench to bedside – and back again
  • Patients helping to design and evaluate research studies
  • Communication with the local and wider community a priority
  • A café open to the public means world-beating research will happen literally above the heads of anyone who cares to walk in
  • Patient accommodation on site offering stunning views across Hampstead Heath and central London

Part of the community

A barista making coffee at Mileto Caffé located within the Pears Building. 

The Pears Building is home to Miletto Café, open to the public and with capacity to hold regular events, providing opportunities for the local and wider community to interact with the scientists leading this important research into the human immune system. 

The caffè showcases the exquisite simplicity of Italian cuisine, featuring artisanal delicacies such as Focaccia, Bruschette and Panini.

Each dish is carefully crafted with fresh Italian ingredients such as juicy porchetta, creamy fiordilatte and aromatic mortadella, taking you to the heart of Italy with every bite.