North West to become powerhouse for UK life sciences

Lu Rahman talks about life sciences in the North West of the UK and how the progress in this region is having a ripple effect across the UK

The life science sector in the North West has the potential to become a powerhouse for the region and the industry at large.

Scientific expertise in the region, its excellent road, rail and air links as well as the proliferation of academia, mean the North West could become a life science hub to rival the Oxford, Cambridge, London triangle.

The North West has already benefitted from the economic success and the knock-on effect of Media City. The life science sector could follow suit thanks to the investment and innovation taking place in the region.

Traditionally the North has a history of medtech innovation. Recent work at Newcastle University has pushed the boundaries of genome sequencing and the area is historically known for advances including the MRI scanner and IVF.

The UK is becoming a major player on the global life science field. Within that the North West is leading through its ability to provide medical and pharmaceutical breakthroughs . 2016 looks set to be a pivotal year for life sciences in the region with the key ingredients needed to make this happen already in place  - expertise, academic input and infrastructure.

The region’s potential was recently highlighted by PwC which claimed that the “rejuvenation in the North of England demonstrates how the coming together of the right pieces of the puzzle is having a positive impact on UK life sciences”.

The consultancy says it has been playing a pivotal role in this field supporting key organisations such as the Northern Health Science Alliance, the North West Coast, Liverpool Health Partners and Medcity.

The North West boasts both the Alderley Park BioHub and Sci-Tech Daresbury Science and Innovation Centre which has been praised by prime minister David Cameron as being “a great collaboration between scientists and businesses”.  

Since its launch two years ago, the BioHub now has 30 physical customers as well as 92 virtual customers. It offers entrepreneurial schemes, a mentoring network and has attracted over £10 million in funding during that time.

In October of this year it was announced that both Leeds and Manchester would be part of the initial locations for the Precision Medicine Catapult, the UK’s innovation centre for precision medicine.

In the same month Clive Morris, director, Health Innovation Manchester, asked how we can make, “Greater Manchester the best place in the world for clinical trials?” highlighting the potential the region has to become a hotspot for life science innovation.

Academic  excellence

The University of Manchester is at the forefront of life science enterprise. Researchers there have recently developed heat-activated ‘grenades’ to target cancer. These drug-packed structures are armed with heat sensitive triggers which mean that treatment can be aimed directly at tumours.

The university is also pushing the boundaries within health informatics and its Ecosystem initiative is a groundbreaking concept designed to address the challenges and opportunites of the connected health marketplace. Serving a population of over 3.2 million people across the UK’s second city, the Ecosystem brings together providers and commissioners of health and social care, world-class academic research, city-region government, patients and citizens, major international companies and innovative SMEs.

Transport hub

The North West is ideally situated as a region for business opportunities and networking.  If the planned HS2 rail link goes ahead it has the potential to make the region more accessible and attractive to business.

Alison Munro, the chief executive of HS2, said: “It will make Manchester an even more attractive place for businesses to locate. It will make sure they are more connected to suppliers, to bigger markets, which they can serve, and to have access to bigger labour markets.”

2016 will be an exciting point in the UK life science sector with the North West playing a crucial role in its growth. Its world class capabilities will see the region contribute both innovation and economic success to the UK medtech market.