Eight AHSCs designated to support translation of scientific advances into treatments for patients
AHSCs are partnerships between top universities and NHS organisations working together to undertake world-leading research to tackle diseases, develop new treatments and transform patient care.
Two new AHSCs have been launched and six re-designated to improve health and care through increased translation of discoveries from early scientific research into benefits to patients.
AHSCs collaborate extensively with other organisations, including the local Academic Health Science Network (AHSN), NHS England, NHS Innovation, other AHSCs, NIHR infrastructure and the wider innovation landscape.
Their work will support the NHS Long Term Plan, the Life Science Industrial Strategy and the goals of the expanded Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC), accelerating the speed of innovation in healthcare to the national population.
Neelam Patel, CEO, MedCity said: “MedCity was founded by three AHSCs so we understand the pivotal role they play in translation of pioneering medical treatments, therapies and technological developments. The COVID-19 pandemic brings home even more the importance of collaboration across academia and the NHS, to harness research strengths for tackling global health challenges.
“Congratulations to Cambridge University Health Partners, King’s Health Partners, Imperial College AHSC, Oxford Academic Health Partners and UCLPartners, who will continue to provide excellence in translational science. And with three AHSCs being designated across England, it will strengthen the UK’s life sciences sector and drive forward our joint mission to champion the UK on the world stage.”
Following a successful Research England bid in November 2019, MedCity and the NHSA have been working collaboratively to foster economic growth and help speed up the development of health innovations for the UK, and globally. The establishment of eight AHSCs across England is another step forward in improving the visibility of UK life sciences expertise on the international stage.
Dr Séamus O’Neill, Chief Executive, Northern Health Science Alliance, said: “It is a major boost to now have two ASHCs in the North of England amongst just eight across the country. This acknowledges the excellence in health science research, the adoption of innovation by the care system, the involvement of the local population in the process and the value placed on partnership with industry in addressing health challenges.
“Congratulations to the Manchester and Newcastle teams for their vision, leadership, collegiate approach and hard work to secure this recognition. We look forward to helping amplify and celebrate the research and innovation excellence within the partnerships to national and global audiences.”
The following eight partnerships have been awarded AHSC designation for the next five years:
Bristol Health Partners / Academic Health Science Centre (new partnership)
Bristol Health Partners is a collaboration between the city region’s major health institutions, covering the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire area. These include its three NHS trusts, its clinical commissioning group, two universities and Bristol City Council.
They exist to improve the health of those who live in and around Bristol and to improve the delivery of the services on which they rely, and to act as a mechanism for change in the health and care community and the city region.
Cambridge University Health Partners / Academic Health Science Centre
CUHP is a strategic partnership aiming to improve patient care, patient outcomes and population health through innovation and the integration of service delivery, health research and clinical education.
The partnership is made up of the University of Cambridge, Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre
Imperial AHSC is a partnership between Imperial College London, The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.
Their vision is to use research and education to reduce the burden of disease. Where possible, the Imperial College AHSC seeks to prevent the onset of disease. Where it cannot prevent disease, it is focussed on detecting and diagnosing conditions earlier and, for all diagnosed diseases, the AHSC aims to develop better, precisely targeted treatments.
King’s Health Partners / Academic Health Sciences Centre
KHP’s partners are King’s College London, and Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts. They are involved in a range of innovative and ambitious programmes and projects in support of their mission for excellence in clinical care, research and education which include: Informatics, Global Health, Mind & Body, Public Health, Integrating Health, and Value.
Manchester Academic Health Science Centre
MAHSC, part of Health Innovation Manchester, brings together The University of Manchester, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust in a partnership working to drive health research and benefit our citizens.
MAHSC delivers research and innovation through six domains: cancer, cardiovascular and diabetes, inflammation and repair, mental health, neuroscience and women and children.
Newcastle Health Innovation Partners / Academic Health Science Centre (new partnership)
The region’s Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC) involves Newcastle University, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle City Council, Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria and Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust.
This new centre is focused on addressing the health inequalities and medical needs of people in the North East and North Cumbria.
Oxford Academic Health Partners / Academic Health Science Centre
OAHP is a partnership between Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Brookes University and the University of Oxford.
They drive national efforts to develop, translate and adopt innovations into the NHS, leveraging local assets and skills to support collaboration and partnerships with Oxford AHSN and Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care System, and with other AHSCs and stakeholders, to support innovation and implementation addressing the priorities of NHS LTP, the Life Science Industry Strategy and the AAC.
UCLPartners / Academic Health Science Centre
The UCLP AHSC is nested within the UCLPartners AHSN (Academic Health Science Network), with a shared governance framework that also includes affiliated organisations NIHR CRN North Thames, NIHR ARC North Thames, the London North Genomic Laboratory Hub, MedCity, Healthy London and London AHSC/N Executive Group.
They drive the translation of innovative research into patient benefit, aligning the objectives, infrastructure and resources of eight world-class organisations to act as an innovation pipeline to its NHS partners. Their goals are to build an innovation pipeline to address unmet need; maximise data interoperability; increase economic impact; and address the skills gap.