The centre will eventually house 300 scientists

The Sir James Black Centre is home to about 250 scientists and staff looking into conditions such as diabetes, cancer and tropical diseases.

The Dundee University project was partly funded a by campaign fronted by the city-born Holywood actor and diabetes sufferer Brian Cox.

The facility was named after the university's former Chancellor, who was also a Nobel Prize winner.

'New research'

The addition of the new centre now means Dundee has a larger medical research complex than London's National Institute for Medical Research, according to the university.

Internationally recognised biologist, Professor Sir Philip Cohen, said: "The Sir James Black Centre will take life sciences research at Dundee to a new level and allow us to develop new areas of research that complement those that already exist.

"We are extremely grateful to all the organisations and philanthropists whose donations made this project possible."

Other funding for the centre came from the Scottish Research Infrastructure Fund and awards and donations from medical charities and philanthropic organisations.