Artificial Intelligence will be used to accelerate the discovery of new medicines through a major new partnership between the University of Liverpool and US‑based health‑tech company BPGbio, Inc., secured following Mayor Steve Rotheram’s trade mission to the United States.
The collaboration will harness large‑scale healthcare data and advanced AI techniques to speed up the development of new treatments, strengthening Liverpool City Region’s position as a global hub for health and life sciences innovation.
Working through the University of Liverpool’s Civic HealthTech Innovation Zone, researchers will analyse a wide range of health information, including medical imaging, laboratory results, genetic and protein data, alongside patient outcomes.
By combining these datasets, scientists aim to uncover cause‑and‑effect relationships in disease processes, helping identify new drug targets and accelerating the journey from research to treatment.
The work will support advances in both drug discovery and precision healthcare, enabling more targeted and effective therapies.
The partnership follows a high‑level meeting in Boston during the Liverpool City Region trade mission in October 2024, led by Mayor Steve Rotheram. The University of Liverpool delegation included Professor Iain Buchan, Professor Claire Eyres and Dr Peter Green, who met with Dr Niven Narain, President and CEO of BPGbio, and senior colleagues to explore opportunities for collaboration.
The success of the mission has now translated into investment that will create jobs in the region and deepen international links between Liverpool and the global health‑tech sector.
BPGbio, Inc. is a leading US biotechnology company specialising in AI‑driven medicine development. The collaboration will significantly expand and enhance its NAi® Bayesian AI platform, an advanced system designed to identify the underlying drivers of disease.
Led by an interdisciplinary research team at the University of Liverpool, the project will improve the platform’s speed, scalability and real‑world application, increasing its impact across drug discovery pipelines and clinical research.
Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram commented:
“This partnership is a direct outcome of our visit to the US and another strong example of growing American investment in the Liverpool City Region – and the importance of bilateral relationships.
“Following in the footsteps of companies like Kyndryl, which launched its UK hub in Liverpool last year, this is a major vote of confidence in our universities, our talent, and our ambition to become a global leader in health and life sciences.
“My ambition is for the Liverpool City Region to be the global home of AI for Good – not chasing AI for its own sake, but backing innovation that genuinely improves the health of our people, strengthens our communities, and creates high-quality jobs.
“Global businesses are recognising what we already know: the Liverpool City Region is not just open for business – it’s open for innovation.”
The Civic HealthTech Innovation Zone is funded through the Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Innovation Zone Programme, part of the Government’s national Investment Zone Programme.
The programme is designed to attract investment, support cutting‑edge research and position the city region as a powerhouse for health and life sciences, connecting academic expertise with industry innovation.
By combining world‑class academic research with industry expertise, the collaboration aims to deliver breakthroughs that benefit patients while driving economic growth across the region.
Image credit: iStock
