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Colin Bell, Business Growth Director at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, reacts to the publication of the Government’s UK Life Sciences Vision.

Colin said:

“Government’s bold and ambitious UK Life Sciences Vision aims to address some of the of our most urgent health challenges – including cancer, dementia and cardiovascular disease. Working with industry, it aims to position the UK as a leader in scientific excellence.

“Here in the North East, we plan to support the delivery of the UK Life Sciences Vision by delivering on the targets set out in the region’s Health, Life Sciences and Medicines Manufacturing Strategy, which aims to double the number of jobs in the North East’s health and life sciences sector, and double the number of businesses active in the region’s health and life sciences community.

“We want to build on our sector strengths by expanding the development of advanced therapies and drug delivery systems; grow the pharmaceutical manufacturing supply chain, and deliver more diagnostics development and scale-up opportunities.

“We want the North East to continue to be a place where health and life sciences businesses can start, grow and scale.

“The North East’s health and life sciences community played a central role in the UK’s COVID-19 response. Newcastle-based QuantuMDx invested over £11 million to accelerate development, scale-up and manufacture of its rapid point-of-care testing system – Q-POC.

Atelerix, which is based at The Biosphere on Newcastle Helix, developed a ground-breaking solution for cell preservation by using existing technology to extend the shelf life of COVID-19 test kits. And the CPI, based at NETPark in County Durham, was part of the national taskforce to develop, scale-up, manufacture and supply effective COVID-19 vaccines.

“In alignment with the UK Life Sciences Vision, we want to channel the achievements of North East health and life sciences businesses to grow the sector, create more and better jobs in the North East, and help position the UK a global leader in health and life sciences.”

Read the article in full, here.