6 FUTURENORTH NHSA


Delivering an industrial strategy for the North


On course to unlock £1bn worth of life sciences investment


It was in November last year that the Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) was named as the Govern- ment’s delivery partner for the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy Sector Deal across the North of England. The NHSA is an alliance of univer-


sities, NHS hospitals and Academic Health Science Networks. Through working together with industry, it has identified planned investments of £1bn in life sciences, across the Northern Powerhouse, in the next five years. But what will an Industrial strategy


for the North’s life science sector look like? And what will it bring to the North of England? “The NHSA is partnering with


the Government to make sure that the Life Science’s Industrial Strat- egy plays to the region’s specific strengths, making the most of its con- siderable assets, and building towards a healthier and wealthier Northern Powerhouse,” said Dr Hakim Yadi OBE, chief executive of the NHSA. “Our work with industry and lead-


ing health partners has identified this vibrant sector already has £1bn of investment planned in life sciences over the next five years and we want that to grow. “We now have the opportunity to


galvanise the North’s health innova- tion economy by working as a partner with Government. We will make sure investments made as part of the Life Science Industrial Strategy sector deals are made in the right areas that increase our infrastructure capacity while supporting the growth of life science business across the North. “We are thrilled to be working with


the Government to deliver a life sci- ences sector deal that delivers for, and


“We now have the opportunity to galvanise the North’s health innovation economy by working as a partner with Government” Dr Hakim Yadi


26 June 2018


capitalised on the assets of, the North of England.” The NHSA identified seven areas of


Life Sciences Industrial Strategy where the North both has strengths but is also best placed to support delivery of the strategy in data, increasing NHS collabo- ration, skills, growth and infrastructure, delivering components of the newly created Healthcare Advanced Research Partnership (HARP), manufacturing and in reinforcing the UK’s science offer. The North’s strengths in health


research were also identified last year through the Northern Independent Economic Review which identified Health Innovation as one of the North’s four prime sectors ripe for develop- ment and growth.


The awarding of a Northern Pow-


erhouse in Health Research Science Innovation Audit in the autumn by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to the NHSA sup- ports the recognition by government that the North is a powerhouse in life sciences and health innovation.


CURRENTLY 13.5% of Government, and third sector funding into health research goes to the North. If this matched that of the current levels invested by private industry at 20% then an extra £200m could be realised for the North’s economy each year rais- ing levels over £400m a year. Dr Yadi said: “The North is creative and innovative and we need support


Drawing investment into the sector


The NHSA offers a bespoke service to industry partners wanting to collabo- rate with the academic and clinical research infrastructure in the North of England. With the expertise and capabilities


of leading universities, research- intensive NHS organisations and Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) – this support spans the health innovation pathway – from concept to patient. Suzanne Ali-Hassan, Head of


Corporate Engagement at the NHSA, said: “We mainly work with companies outside the North of England to get them to invest and work in the region. “We collaborate with the Depart-


ment of International Trade to attend conferences and events, promoting the North of England in the context of the wider UK health sciences offer. “The overall aim of our industry


Suzanne Ali-Hassan: ‘We hope to introduce our member organisations to exciting, novel technology


work is to find appropriate academic or clinical partnerships within our member organisations. We support large companies through to SMEs


in their therapeutic, diagnostics/medi- cal technology and new digital technol- ogy development. “Consequently, we hope to introduce


our member organisations to exciting, novel technology coming from all over the world – eventually improving the health of patients in the UK.”


at the same level as the South of the country to grow the expertise and excellence we already have here. “We carried out an analysis of pat-


ents last year which demonstrated the North of England is twice as effective at innovating as Cambridge, and sec- ond only to London, when innovation is measured using patent applications published for new life science technolo- gies. This is despite the historic limited access to commercialisation capital and funding from Government.” The North, which receives 13.5% of


health research funding, compared to London’s 32.1%, produces a similar number of patent applications (386 compared to 401) – making its funding work twice as hard.


According to the MRC it is estimated


that for every £1 invested in medical research, there is a 17% annual return to the UK economy, indefinitely. Taking into account the monetised benefits of a healthier population the rate of return rises to between 24% and 28%. Dr Yadi finishes: “The potential for


the North of England if the Life Sci- ences Industrial Strategy Sector Deal is put in place effectively and with the right level of finance is truly exciting – and not just for the North but for the whole of the UK.”


For more information on the Northern Health Science Alliance visit www. theNHSA.co.uk


Working with the NHSA


MELOQ Meloq, a Swedish medical technology SME, developed a medical device for measuring the angle of joints and related spasticity during rehabilitation. The device has primarily been used within physiotherapy but they are interested in exploring alternative applications such as neurological conditions. The NHSA introduced them to


colleagues in Liverpool and Sheffield with negotiations underway to integrate the technology into a planned neurological study with Sheffield. Rui Chen, Chief Technical Officer, Meloq said: “When we decided to work inside the UK we realised the navigation of its health sciences could be difficult – which is why it’s been a delight working with the NHSA team who have connected us to several clinicians and researchers. We are now about to start a clinical test thanks to the introductions made by the NHSA.”


ONCIMMUNE Oncimmune approached the NHSA to identify clinical partners to trial their new antibody test for lung cancer and support an application for a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) grant. After discussing with the company, the NHSA introduced Oncimmune to Leeds and set up a visit to meet with key personnel from across the City Region. As a result of the introduction


made by the NHSA Oncimmune was successful in its SBRI application and is commencing Phase One of its trial which will demonstrate the health economics of the test and how much money it will save the NHS. It will work with Leeds University, Leeds University NIHR In Vitro Diagnostics Co-Operative and Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust Pathology Department in delivering the trial.


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