Specialist sister in immunology research Sarita Workman puts a copy of the CNJ in the time capsule as, from left, Royal Free chief executive Sir David Sloman, Annabelle Prin, Professor Hans Stauss, Toby Driskell, Chris Burghes and Pamela Bate, from architects Hopkins, look on

A COPY of the Camden New Journal was locked into a time capsule to mark the start of building work at the Royal Free Hospital on Tuesday.

The “bottoming out” ceremony took place at the site of the new Pears Building, a research centre in Pond Street. It will be home to the UCL Institute of Im­mun­ity and Transplant­ation, and work on providing treatments for cancer, diabetes, HIV and tuber­culosis, as well as support­ing advances in trans­plantation.

ITT director Professor Hans Stauss said: “Today is a big moment for the institute and has been in planning since 2008. It will provide space for 200 scientists and room for more volun­teers.” The building will have rooms where patients’ families can stay.

The time capsule holds copies of the New Journal and the Hampstead and High­gate Express, drawings by pupils at the Royal Hospital School and cards from hospital staff detailing what they hope to happen in the next 100 years.

Royal Free Charity chief executive Chris Burghes said: “One I saw that really got me hoping was ‘In 100 years’ time I hope the NHS is still here and still free at the point of delivery’. That says everything about what we are trying to do here.”