UK Government Announces New Biomedical Research Centre For Manchester

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 21 Mar 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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Health Secretary Alan Johnson today announced the creation of a new Biomedical Research Centre of excellence in Manchester to drive the development, testing and uptake of new and better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat ill-health.

The creation of this new Centre recognises the international research excellence of the partnership between the Central Manchester & Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Manchester. The new Biomedical Research Centre will focus on "translational research" that will take advances in basic medical research out of the laboratory and into the hospital clinic. This means that patients will benefit more quickly from new scientific breakthroughs.

The new NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) Biomedical Research Centre will also help to ensure that the UK retains its position at the top of the international league table for Biomedical Research. The process for selecting the Biomedical Research Centres was highly competitive

The Manchester Biomedical Research Centre will join NIHR Biomedical Research Centres in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Liverpool and Newcastle. These are among the most outstanding centres of medical research in the world. The Manchester Biomedical Research Centre will undertake research, over the next four years, on major killers such as heart disease, as well as on other crucial areas such as inflammatory bowel disease, learning and developmental disabilities, and complications of pregnancy.

Alan Johnson, Health Secretary said:

"Health research is vital for the health and wealth of the nation. We want to create a world-class health research system in which the NHS supports people conducting leading-edge research and gives patients better access to ground-breaking new medicines and treatments."

"The new Biomedical Research Centre in Manchester will strengthen our drive to put the UK at the forefront of vital health research and contribute to the nation's international competitiveness as a major component of our knowledge economy."

"The investment the Government is making in this new Centre will also provide a major boost to innovation and economic development in Manchester and the North West."

Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust chief executive Mike Deegan said: "This momentous decision means we can now embark on the final phase of a massive transformation project. Alongside our £500m investment in new hospital buildings and facilities, the Trust and University will be able to deliver world class research that benefits patients both locally and globally. We will make sure that the communities which surround the BRC also get additional benefit from jobs and new commercial opportunities."

Professor Alan Gilbert, President and Vice Chancellor of The University of Manchester, said: "This announcement recognises the quality of the biomedical research currently being conducted in Manchester and the excellent partnership that has been forged between the University and the Trust to undertake world class clinical research. BRC status will strengthen the partnership and further establish Manchester as a key centre for the translation of scientific knowledge into improved patient outcomes."

Leader of Manchester City Council Sir Richard Leese said: "This is a great boost for Manchester, which will help vital medical research, attract more top scientists to the city and support jobs in the local community. We know we face many challenges in health in this city. Now, thanks to this funding, research carried out here will mean that local people can benefit from those initiatives.

"The investment reinforces all the other improvements and regeneration taking place in the City South partnership. This is great news and long overdue. Congratulations to all involved in this vital bid."

Mike Farrar, Chief Executive at NHS North West, said: "I'm delighted that Manchester has been awarded a Biomedical Centre. It created a wonderful platform for developing our research and development capacity across the region and will play a huge part in establishing the North West as a world leading health system."

1. The Manchester Biomedical Research Centre was selected by an international expert selection panel, that was chaired by Professor John Savill, Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, and employed an independent, transparent and objective process of expert peer review.

2. The panel members were:

Professor John Savill (Chair)
Vice Principal and Head of the College of Medicine & Veterinary
Medicine, University of Edinburgh
Professor Jan Carlstedt-Duke
Dean of Research, Karolinska Institute, Sweden
Professor Garret FitzGerald
Director, Institute for Translational Medicine & Therapeutics,
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

In attendance

Professor Sally Davies
Director General for Research & Development, Department of Health Dr Russell Hamilton
Director, Research & Development, Department of Health
Observers

Dr George Sarna
Research Strategy Manager, Medical Research Council
Dr Rama Thirunamachandran
Director, Research & Knowledge Transfer, HEFCE

3. Further about NIHR Biomedical Research Centres is available at http://www.nihr.ac.uk

4. To be successful, the Manchester Partnership had to demonstrate an international reputation for their basic medical research and expertise and track-record in translating that research into the clinic and ultimately benefitting patients.

5. The research to be undertaken by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre in Manchester will include harnessing genetic technologies to improve diagnosis and/or treatment in key areas such as:

a. sudden cardiac death
b. developmental disease
c. complex inflammatory disease
d. disadvantaged populations
e. complications of pregnancy
f. neurofibromatosis
g. adverse drug reactions

6. The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) was launched on the 1 April 2006 following the publication of the Government's strategy Best Research for Best Health: A new National Health Research Strategy in January 2006. The strategy outlines the direction that NHS research will take to build a vibrant and world-class research environment in England. The Institute is being established on a phased basis as each of its key work areas are introduced. It will provide the framework through which we will position, manage and maintain the research, research staff and infrastructure of the NHS in England. Its work will focus on meeting the needs of the research community, patients and the public. Visit the National Institute for Health Research at http://www.nihr.ac.uk