£28.5m awarded to Greater Manchester’s devolved health system

A historic single bid has been awarded to Manchester’s devolved health system, bringing the life science sector a total of £28.5 million.

The bid was awarded by the NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) and demonstrates the connectivity and collaboration that has been central to the success of Greater Manchester’s devolution.

The bid was hosted by numerous hospitals, trusts and foundations including, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, The University of Manchester, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, with support from Manchester Academic Health Science Centre.

It will see Manchester granted prestigious NIHR Biomedical Research Centre status.

The bid will aid research into new tests and treatments in various sectors of life sciences such as musculoskeletal disease, hearing health, respiratory disease, dermatology and cancer prevention, radiotherapy and precision medicine.

The bid should position Manchester for further research investment that will give patients early access to new treatments and benefit the economy.

Jon Rouse, chief officer of Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, the body overseeing the devolution of the £6bn health and social care budget, said:

"The new partnership approach under devolution means that we have both the opportunity – and the means – to combine the talents of people from a whole range of areas to benefit our population. This hugely welcome funding is recognition that in Greater Manchester we can combine the best clinical skills with the best research, innovation and academic talent to take huge steps in improving the health and wellbeing of our people.’

Professor Ian Bruce, director of the NIHR Manchester BRC, added: “Working closely with patients, we will use the latest advances in biology, medicine and health technology to better predict disease and likely treatment response. The new diagnostic tests and therapies we develop will enable doctors to offer a more tailored approach and to better personalise treatments to the individual. We are also working on better ways to prevent disease developing in the first place.”