Working nationally is essential for delivery of the Precision Medicine Catapult's strategy of helping accelerate the introduction of new products and services, given the UK's existing precision medicine strengths in different parts of the country. To that end, it plans to partner with centres of excellence across the UK, covering the North of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Southern England.
The appointment of John McKinley as CEO of the Precision Medicine Catapult has also been announced today.
Expected to be fully operational by the end of 2016/17, the Precision Medicine Catapult network is expected to be headquartered on Cambridge Biomedical Campus. Chosen in a rigorous, independent process, the site brings access to an internationally recognised biotech cluster plus academic and private sector precision medicine expertise. The Cambridge bid was led by Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
Partnering across the country is pivotal to the Precision Medicine Catapult's task of making the UK the most attractive place in the world in which to develop precision medicine tests and therapies. Under the regional relationships in development, these centres are expected to play a significant role in accelerating and delivering on that task. In this way the Precision Medicine Catapult can tap into local expertise in the collection and analysis of clinical data at scale, testing and validation of new precision medicine-ready clinical trial models, and development of NHS adoption routes for precision medicine. Access to pathology expertise, facilities for the development of robust diagnostic tests clinically validated to NHS level and close links to leading diagnostic companies will also be important.
Precision medicine uses diagnostic tests or data-based insights to understand a patient's disease more precisely, and so select treatments with more predictable, safer, cost-effective outcomes. The UK’s research and clinical expertise, combined with government investment of around £1 billion in relevant research infrastructure, has placed it in a leading position in this area. It is the Precision Medicine Catapult's role to build on this investment, bringing benefits to the UK economy and patients.
Richard Barker, Chairman of the Precision Medicine Catapult, said, 'We are delighted to announce today the launch of our precision medicine network, following an extensive cross-country review of capabilities. Under the leadership of John McKinley, operating as a UK-wide organisation will enable us to build most fully on the nation's precision medicine strengths, tapping into regional expertise to bring national and local benefit. We look forward to working widely from our Cambridge hub and are pleased to see partnerships already developing across the UK.'
Welcoming the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s announcement today on the Precision Medicine Catapult location and the formation of a new Medicines Technologies Catapult at Alderley Park, Innovate UK Chief Executive Ruth McKernan said:
'Today’s announcement will mean that the UK will have a world-class network of medicines Catapults – Precision Medicine, Medicines Technologies and our existing Cell Therapy Catapult. Together these three complementary catapults should keep the UK at the forefront of a sector we have long excelled in and act as a magnet for inward investment.'
Read today's announcement from the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Precision Medicine Catapult's location