£2.25m investment to support medical innovation

The University of Leeds has secured a £2.25 million investment to support the commercialisation of medical technologies developed by five universities in the Leeds City Region

The Medical Technologies Innovation Catalyst project, funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), will translate the region’s best medical technology research into practical products available to patients.

Working closely with the Medical Technologies Innovation and Knowledge Centre (Medical Technologies IKC) at the University of Leeds, the project will give researchers at the universities of Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, York and Leeds Beckett access to a dedicated innovation team experienced in getting technologies to market.

The announcement comes after the Medical Technologies IKC was awarded an additional £3 million to accelerate commercialisation of regenerative devices nationwide.

Professor John Fisher, deputy vice-chancellor at the University of Leeds and director of the Medical Technologies IKC, said: “The Medical Technologies Innovation Catalyst project will enable us to share the expertise built up within the Medical Technologies IKC over the last five years and to help other universities in the Leeds City Region build capacity in innovation.”

Dr Ceri Williams, director of research and innovation funding at the University of Leeds, said: “Our aim is to establish the region as the preferred location for medical technology innovation and inward investment in the UK.”

Roger Marsh, chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said: “Innovation is critical for the growth of our regional economy, and universities play a key role in both technology translation and development of high level skills. “