Scientists are transforming Oxfordshire into a pioneering centre of excellence in genetic research that will change the shape of global medicine, writes Victoria Owen.

This week the University of Oxford opened the 20m Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, where researchers will study a range of common conditions and diseases and how they affect the human make-up.

And next month, Lord Attenborough will visit the city to open one of the first units dedicated to decoding genetic information. The new projects are gearing up for the results of the Human Genome Project, which has been cataloguing all three billion genes in the human make-up.

On Tuesday, the Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine opened its doors, marking the university's position as a global leader in genetics research.

The centre, based at the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Headington, is one of the University's Millennium buildings and houses the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics. Newly-enlisted staff are now looking at the structure of common human diseases and have already started conducting pioneering research into conditions including autism, anxiety, multiple sclerosis, malaria, asthma and diabetes.

Prof Anthony Monaco, the centre director, said: "The building will house research that expands our understanding of the genetics of common disease ."

Vice-Chancellor Dr Colin Lucas added: "Scientific research at the University is at an all-time high and we welcome the opportunities offered by the unit." The centre is just the first project launched that will work closely with the Human Genome Project.

Professor of Human Anatomy and Genetics Kay Davies and her team will soon be leading investigations at the Medical Research Council's Functional Genetics Unit.

It is hoped that their studies into some of the genome data will help discover new treatments for 4,000 hereditary diseases.

The project will rely heavily on the new 200m synchrotron X-ray machine, which is being built at Harwell, near Didcot.