ISCF Leading-edge Healthcare funding adds to range of sector opportunities

£197 million to develop first-of-a-kind technologies that will speed up patient access to new medicines.

Government aims to build on exporting strength of UK biopharmaceuticals.

Business Secretary Greg Clark today launched a comprehensive funding programme in leading-edge healthcare - part of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund investments first announced in April 2017.

The Leading-Edge Healthcare challenge was launched alongside a proposed life sciences strategy from Professor Sir John Bell which sets out industry recommendations for the long-term success of UK life sciences; including the establishment of the Healthcare Advanced Research Program (HARP), through which UK-based industries, charities and the NHS can work together to create new and more efficient ways of delivering sustainable healthcare.

The Leading-Edge Healthcare programme represents an investment of £197 million over 4 years to develop first-of-a-kind technologies for the manufacture of medicines that will speed up patient access to new drugs and treatments, improve public health and build the export strength of the UK’s biopharmaceutical sector. Elements will include:

·      £66m for a Vaccines Development and Manufacturing Centre in partnership with industry, to develop and manufacture vaccines for routine clinical trials and for emergency preparedness for epidemic threats.

·      £13m for a Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre in partnership with industry, to accelerate the adoption of emerging and novel manufacturing technologies and to transform fine chemical/pharmaceutical manufacturing

·      £30m for a small network of Advanced Therapy Treatment Centres, which will be based in hospitals and will transform the UK’s ability to develop and deliver cell and gene therapies at scale to large numbers of patients

·     A £25m collaborative R&D innovation competition to support SMEs working in these areas.

Leading-edge Healthcare programme funding will also double the manufacturing capacity of the Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing Centre in Stevenage.

This initiative adds to the healthcare sector opportunities already open through the Digital Catalyst competition - a £35m funding programme to be delivered through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund over the next 4 years Рand the £10m Biomedical Catalyst Round 3, which supports the development of technologies and processes including disease prevention, early detection and tailored treatments.

KTN will host briefing events as follows: see our events pages for more details and to make a booking.

• Medicines Manufacturing Round 1: Challenge Fund
  £15m competition for collaborative R&D innovation funding through a competition to support SMEs working in these areas
  Competition Briefing Event: 13 September, Manchester (you can also listen to a live webinar)

• Vaccines Development and Manufacturing Centre
  To develop and manufacture vaccines for clinical trials and prepare for emergency epidemic threats, the government is investing £66m in a new centre of excellence.
  Competition Briefing Event: 25 September, London

• Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre
  A £13m competition to establish a new centre, in partnership with industry, that will accelerate the adoption of emerging and novel technologies.
  Competition Briefing event: 21 September, Glasgow

• Advanced Therapies Treatment Centre
  £30m investment to establish a network of three centres, based in hospitals, that will transform the UK’s ability to develop and deliver cell and gene therapies to a larger number of patients.
  Competition Briefing event: 26 September, York