Research centre gets an extra £9.5m
THE Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has announced further funding and support for Manchester’s Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).
It has committed £9.5m to support operating costs at the centre which is part of a group of hospital and university research centres developing innovative treatments and medicines.
It follows an initial investment of £4.1m committed last year to help launch the centre.
The £35m BRC is run by a partnership led by the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Manchester.
Mike Deegan, chief executive of the trust, said: “The NWDA played a fundamental role in helping Manchester to secure the BRC, and continues to be a major supporter of this exciting partnership between clinicians in our hospitals and researchers at The University of Manchester.
“This investment will enable us to achieve our goal of becoming a world class player in the biomedical research field and a leader in delivering innovative healthcare, as well as providing economic benefits to the NW region.”
The centre is one of 12 BRCs across the UK which the NWDA said would, “drive forward the translation of excellent basic science into world leading therapeutics, diagnostics and treatments; supporting UK pharmaceutical and healthcare businesses”.
Match funding of £18.8m has also been provided by the trust, the university and the Department of Health. Commerical partners include AstraZeneca, Renovo, GlaxoSmithKline and the Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility.
The NWDA said the centre is contributing to the creation of more than 150 jobs and creating, “significant opportunities” to engage in new collaborations with similar knowledge-based industries.
