History made as Manchester lands health funding

14 Sep 2016

£28.5m invested in Greater Manchester’s devolved health system to pioneer lifesaving research

Today history has been made as a single Manchester bid has been awarded £28.5m from the NIHR, bringing lifesaving tests and treatments a step nearer for millions of people.

The bid has only been made possible through bringing together the recognised clinical and research expertise from across health and academia, which demonstrates the connectivity and collaboration that is central to making Greater Manchester devolution a success.

The successful bid has been hosted by Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University and the partnership also involves The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust and is supported by Manchester Academic Health Science Centre. It will see Manchester granted prestigious NIHR Biomedical Research Centre status.

This will drive forward pioneering research into new tests and treatments in the areas of musculoskeletal disease, hearing health, respiratory disease and dermatology and three cancer themes (prevention, radiotherapy and precision medicine).

Manchester’s researchers impressed an international panel of experts with their unique proposals that will accelerate the translation of early stage research into new diagnostic tests and treatments to benefit patients of all ages and backgrounds in Greater Manchester and beyond. This will make Manchester ideally placed to attract further research investment that will give our patients early access to new and ground-breaking treatments and will deliver wider value to the economy.

President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell said: “The BRC focuses the research efforts of the University and NHS Partners so that we can address the considerable health needs of Greater Manchester. As the areas of research being targeted by the BRC represent complex global health issues, our work also has the potential to have an impact much further afield.”

Professor Ian Greer, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, commented: “This award presents us with a fantastic opportunity to build on our existing, very successful relationships with our NHS partners in MAHSC to help deliver a real step-change in health research across Manchester.

“The seven BRC themes, led by Faculty academics, will also help to realise our ambition of developing a truly translational approach to biology, medicine and health, and ultimately have a very real and positive impact on people’s lives.”

Jon Rouse, Chief Officer of Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, the body overseeing the devolution of the £6bn health and social care budget, said: "The new partnership approach under devolution means that we have both the opportunity – and the means – to combine the talents of people from a whole range of areas to benefit our population.

“This hugely welcome funding is recognition that in Greater Manchester we can combine the best clinical skills with the best research, innovation and academic talent to take huge steps in improving the health and wellbeing of our people.”

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