A new collaboration between the government and the life sciences industry aims to save tens of thousands of lives through pioneering research to detect deadly diseases as early as possible before symptoms appear.
Global biopharmaceutical company UCB is investing £1 billion in research and development, including a new state-of-the-art facility, continuing the UK’s reputation as a world-leading base for global life sciences research and industry. The programme, backed by up to £79 million of government funding, will study five million healthy people in a bid to develop new diagnostic tests using artificial intelligence (AI).
The project is part of the government’s Life Science’s Sector Deal. It brings together 10 companies – backed by a wide range of organisations from across the sector – and includes more than £1.3 billion of investment between the public and private sectors. The aim is to ensure that the UK remains in pole position in therapeutics, while creating the industries and treatments of the future, such as genomics and AI-powered diagnosis.
According to Business Secretary Greg Clark, by working hand in hand with industry it will ensure the UK remains the ‘go-to destination’ for launching new businesses, new discoveries and new treatments to benefit health around the world. “From the first vaccine to the discovery of DNA, the UK has always been at the forefront of medical endeavour and healthcare innovations,” he said. “That is why we are building on our unique strengths by placing life sciences at the centre of our modern Industrial Strategy, backed by the biggest increase in public research and development investment in UK history.”
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