Comment

26.09.18

Greater Manchester: Forefront of precision medicine

Source: NHE Sept/Oct 2018

Precision medicine is hailed as the next big thing in healthcare, and Greater Manchester is set to lead the way with a new £60m global genomics centre, explains Rowena Burns, chair of Health Innovation Manchester.

Put simply, precision medicine is a move away from a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to one which targets therapies to achieve the best outcomes in the management of a patient’s disease or predisposition to disease. It means that we will be able to treat patients better, quicker and more accurately.

This concept isn’t particularly new. Clinicians have been working to personalise care tailored to people’s individual health needs throughout the history of medicine, but never before has it been possible to predict how each of our bodies will respond to specific interventions, or identify which of us is at risk of developing an illness. New possibilities are now emerging as we bring together novel approaches, such as whole genome sequencing, data and informatics, and new technologies. It is the interconnections between these innovations that make it possible to move to an era of truly personalised care.

Greater Manchester already has a strong track record in precision medicine, from breakthroughs in cancer treatment at The Christie Hospital, to the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine at Manchester University NHS FT, and the University of Manchester as a hub of scientific discovery and research. This has established the city region as a jewel in the UK’s life sciences sector, further enhanced by Health Innovation Manchester – our groundbreaking partnership between academia, industry and the NHS, focused on accelerating innovation into health and social care at pace and scale, enabled by devolution.

A testament to Greater Manchester’s international pull is the news that German-based QIAGEN will be expanding its presence in Manchester to create a new global genomics centre, located on the UK’s largest clinical academic campus at the Manchester University NHS FT. The project will bring fast-tracked real health benefits to our population through access to new tests and targeted treatments developed through pioneering research. It will serve as an innovation incubator to support translating genomic biomarkers into clinical use and yield benefits for patients everywhere who need advanced diagnostic insights.

The new campus will be a major pull for other life sciences companies and is expected to create and support up to 1,500 jobs and add almost £150m to Manchester’s economy over a decade. As such, Manchester City Council approved a one-off investment of up to £21m, underwritten by life science enterprise zone business rates. Greater Manchester Combined Authority also agreed to provide £3m of loan funding.

The deal was made possible thanks to a multi-agency partnership led by Health Innovation Manchester, including Manchester City Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Manchester Science Partnerships, Manchester University NHS FT and the University of Manchester.

Fostering public-private partnerships to improve the health and wellbeing of Greater Manchester’s citizens is exactly what Health Innovation Manchester was set up to do, and combined with our devolved health and social care system, this places us in an incredibly strong position to address the health challenges of the population.

Investment and devolution in the north of England will be discussed at EvoNorth, an exclusive event committed to driving forward the devolution agenda to deliver improved public services, enhance health and wellbeing, and make significant improvements to infrastructure. Don't miss your chance to attend, visit the website here

Top image: Manchester Science Partnerships

 

Enjoying NHE? Subscribe here to receive our weekly news updates or click here to receive a copy of the magazine!

Comments

There are no comments. Why not be the first?

Add your comment

national health executive tv

more videos >

latest healthcare news

NHS England commits £30m to join up HR and staff rostering systems

09/09/2020NHS England commits £30m to join up HR and staff rostering systems

As NHS England looks to support new ways of working, it has launched a £30m contract tender for HR and staff rostering systems, seeking sup... more >
Gender equality in NHS leadership requires further progress

09/09/2020Gender equality in NHS leadership requires further progress

New research carried out by the University of Exeter, on behalf of NHS Confederation, has shown that more progress is still needed to achieve gen... more >
NHS Trust set for big savings in shift to digital patient letters

09/09/2020NHS Trust set for big savings in shift to digital patient letters

Up and down the country, NHS trusts are finding new and innovative ways to leverage the power of digital technologies. In Bradford, paper appoint... more >

the scalpel's daily blog

Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

28/08/2020Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive, NHS Employers & Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Confederation The common enemy of coronavirus united the public side by side with the NHS in a way that many had not seen in their lifetimes and for others evoked war-time memories. It was an image of defiance personified by the unforgettable NHS fundraising efforts of Captain Sir Tom Moore, resonating in the supportive applause during the we... more >
read more blog posts from 'the scalpel' >

interviews

Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

24/10/2019Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

Today, speaking at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) annual conference, Matt Hancock highlighted what he believes to be the three... more >
NHS dreams come true for Teesside domestic

17/09/2019NHS dreams come true for Teesside domestic

Over 20 years ago, a Teesside hospital cleaner put down her mop and took steps towards her midwifery dreams. Lisa Payne has been delivering ... more >
How can winter pressures be dealt with? Introduce a National Social Care Service, RCP president suggests

24/10/2018How can winter pressures be dealt with? Introduce a National Social Care Service, RCP president suggests

A dedicated national social care service could be a potential solution to surging demand burdening acute health providers over the winter months,... more >
RCP president on new Liverpool college building: ‘This will be a hub for clinicians in the north’

24/10/2018RCP president on new Liverpool college building: ‘This will be a hub for clinicians in the north’

The president of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has told NHE that the college’s new headquarters based in Liverpool will become a hu... more >

last word

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad, president of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), sits down with National Health Executive as part of our Last Word Q&A series. Would you talk us th... more > more last word articles >

editor's comment

26/06/2020Adapting and Innovating

Matt Roberts, National Health Executive Editorial Lead. NHE May/June 2020 Edition We’ve been through so much as a health sector and a society in recent months with coronavirus and nothing can take away from the loss and difficulties that we’ve faced but it vital we also don’t disregard the amazing efforts we’v... read more >

health service focus

‘We are the NHS’: NHS England publish newest People Plan

30/07/2020‘We are the NHS’: NHS England publish newest People Plan

NHS England has published its People Plan for... more >
How NHS Property Services adapted to a new way of working

01/07/2020How NHS Property Services adapted to a new way of working

From May/June 2020 edition Trish Stephen... more >