The Centre for Health Science (CfHS) in Inverness, Scotland has unveiled plans to create a new research and education centre within its proposed Inverness Campus.

The centre will include a Primary Care Department, focusing on the impact of the Government's planned shift in the balance of care from hospitals to the community as well as a Centre for Wellbeing, tasked with researching issues surrounding the trend towards wellbeing in healthcare, the workplace and social services in the Highlands.

There will also be a Natural Products Centre which will provide resources and research for the many organisations involved in plant and marine based natural products in the Highlands, which has a history of using natural products dating back to the 13th Century.

Ruaraidh MacNeil, of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: "The Inverness Campus is the most exciting development for the Highlands in the next 20 years.

"To have a life sciences centre carrying out groundbreaking research on modern healthcare trends will attract top professionals and students while providing lots of opportunities for local people. It will also provide long-term benefits for the health of Highland communities."

The existing CfHS facility, completed in January 2009, brings together three universities, the private sector, NES and the NHS to focus on healthcare teaching, training and research.

The Centre currently employs 250 staff and around 600 students are involved in courses based at the building at any one time.