Multimillion-pound research institute for health to open in Manchester
A new multimillion-pound research institute that will maximise Manchester’s academic strengths in digital health and advanced materials to discover innovative health and care solutions is being launched by a consortium led by The University of Manchester.
The centre is called The Christabel Pankhurst Institute for Health Technology and Innovation and is part of an ambitious plan set out in the Greater Manchester Local Industrial Strategy to boost the city-region’s provision in this area.
Naming the centre after Dame Christabel Pankhurst celebrates the connection between the university and the co-founder of the Women’s Social and Political Union and a leading player in the suffragette movement.
It is being launched following a £5m award from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s (GMCA) Local Growth Fund.
The consortium is made up of the university, Manchester Science Partnerships (MSP), Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), and Health Innovation Manchester (HInM).
The initiative will build on investments from the university, MSP, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and The Alan Turing Institute, creating a total budget of more than £25m.
The aim of the collaboration is to capitalise on the university’s strengths in digital health and advanced materials and develop innovative products and services for the health care sector.
In turn this will drive business growth and employment as well as boost the long-term health benefits of the city region as well.
The institute will be housed in a flagship building at the centre of the university’s campus on the Oxford Road Corridor, as well as having bespoke, state-of-the-art research and business development spaces at MSP’s Citylabs campus.
This location and partnership will provide support for business growth by facilitating better collaboration between the NHS, researchers and industry through MSP, MFT, Health Innovation Manchester and the university.
The institute will play a critical role in pulling innovations through from basic research to market-ready products and services, which can then be accelerated into clinical use through Greater Manchester’s devolved health and care system and established innovation pathway.
To achieve this it will build on, integrate and enhance the already extensive support provided by the partners.
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council and Deputy Mayor for Business and Economy for Greater Manchester Combined Authority, said: “The Christabel Pankhurst Institute for Health Technology and Innovation is another impressive example of how Greater Manchester is leading the way with outstanding technological and scientific innovation.
“Health innovation is one of the city’s key strengths and an integral part of our Local Industrial Strategy, developed jointly with the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership and agreed with the Government.
“It’s part of our journey to become a world-leading centre for health innovation and the best place in the country to grow up, get on and grow old.”
The University of Manchester’s president and vice-chancellor, Prof Dame Nancy Rothwell, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity to work with our partners to exploit the university’s strengths in digital health and advanced materials to make a real difference to the health and economic development of Greater Manchester.”
