EXPERTS from across the North of England are to showcase their excellence in tackling anti-microbial resistance (AMR) to an international conference in Boston, USA.

A 14-strong Northern Powerhouse delegation, brought together by the Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA), will showcase the region’s excellence in AMR, health research and clinical trials while celebrating 70 years of the NHS to an audience of global industry and scientists at BIO 2018 International Convention in Boston.

Health science is £17.5 billion of the North’s £304bn output and is forecast to grow by 44.6 % by 2030. Around 570,000 people are employed in health sciences across the North – 7.5% of the region’s workforce.

An international audience will hear from experts from the AMR Centre in Alderley Park, the Centre of Excellence in Infectious Diseases Research in Liverpool, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and leading academics from the University of Manchester and York, at a Breakfast event on June 4^th and at a seminar on June 6^th.

Professor Ian Greer, Vice President of the University of Manchester chair of the Northern Health Science Alliance is speaking at the AMR seminar.

He said: “The North of England has the largest cluster of companies working in antimicrobial resistance in the country.

“We’ve got great opportunities for international industry to come into the North of England and to work with researchers, SMEs and the NHS to look at not only AMR but areas such as digital health, cancer, ageing and personalised medicine

“To be selected for a seminar at BIO International Convention, the biggest of its kind in the world, is a great honour and reflects the excellent work the North is doing.”

The NHSA, which represents eight universities, eight teaching hospitals and four academic health science networks across the North, is delivering the breakfast event with the UK Department for International Trade and sponsored by Alderley Park and the seminar together with the Government’s Northern Powerhouse team.

Dr Hakim Yadi CEO of the NHSA said: “We are delivering the strongest North of England programme ever to BIO International Convention – showcasing the opportunities available in health innovation to global leaders in industry.

“It’s time the North’s capabilities in health science – and the opportunities is offers for global industry – are showcased to the world, building new trading partnerships to benefit the health and wealth of not only the North but the whole UK.”

A timely opportunity during BIO, and fuelled by the UK’s Global AMR Innovation Fund (GAMRIF), CARB-X 2018 Funding Round 2 is open for applications from June 1 to 8. Expressions of Interest are welcome through the online portal only and must be submitted by 5pm ET June 8. CARB-X is the non-profit public-private partnership accelerating the world’s largest pipeline of new antibiotics, vaccines and other products to prevent and treat life-threatening bacterial infections.

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT
For more interviews, comment etc. contact Hannah.Davies@theNHSA.co.uk, 07342882383.

EDITORS NOTES
The NHSA ltd is a partnership established by the leading Universities and NHS Hospital Trusts in the North of England to improve the health and wealth of the region by creating an internationally recognised life science and healthcare system. It links eight universities and eight research-intensive NHS Teaching Trusts with four Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs covering a population of over 15 million.

The NHSA’s members include: Newcastle University, Durham University, University of York, University of Liverpool, University of Manchester, Lancaster University, University of Sheffield, University of Leeds, The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals, Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, Innovation Agency AHSN, Yorkshire and Humber AHSN, North East North Cumbria AHSN, Greater Manchester AHSN.

For more information on the NHSA visit www.theNHSA.co.uk

UK BIO INTERNATIONAL NETWORKING BREAKFAST

“The NHS at 70, opportunities and challenges, from tackling AMR to real-world trial delivery”

Organised by the Northern Health Science Alliance and sponsored by the UK Department for International Trade and Alderley Park. Dr Hakim Yadi OBE, CEO of the NHSA, will talk through the opportunities in data, digital heath and real-world trial infrastructure in the UK, he will be joined by Dr Peter Jackson, Chief Executive of the AMR Centre in Alderley Park, UK, Fiona Marston, Director, Centre of Excellence in Infectious Diseases Research, UK and James Brayer, Director of Market Development US, Oxford Nanopore Technologies.

 THE VALUE OF ADDRESSING AMR

In spite of the importance of effective antimicrobials to modern medicine and growing recognition of the health and economic threat posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR), market challenges have impeded sustainable investment in the development of new products to prevent and treat bacterial infections.

 This session will examine how we can better assess the value of new antimicrobials to individuals, health care systems, and society; how the unique attributes of novel antibiotics can be considered in reimbursement decision-making.

Speakers include: Professor Ian Greer, Vice-President and Dean, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, UK. Professor Colm Leonard, Clinical Adviser, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Manchester, UK. Professor Mark Sculpher, Professor of Health Economics, University of York, UK. Dr Evan Loh, Chief Operating Officer and Medical Director, Paratek, USA.