FP7 Regions of Knowledge – Biotech/Medical devices
North East England, UK
The information below summarizes the ‘offer’ of our triple helix regional
partnership which reflects the breath of expertise and delivery which are
highly relevant to the RoK healthcare research driven cluster call within the
North East of England region.
All regional partners have an extensive track record of leading and partnering
within a wide range of EU funded projects and can offer a wide range of
dissemination networks and deliver regional, national and European level
policy influence.
Proposed Offer
North East England could contribute to a RoK bid around health and wellbeing, with a
targeted focus on sub themes of ageing (assisted living ) and telehealth. A
schematic of the areas which could be included are as follows:
Health and Wellbeing
Commercial
activities
Research
Gerontology
Health
monitoring
Imaging
biomarkers
Telehealth
Production and sales
IT
&
Device Design
The above encapsulates current research and commercial activities in development
in North East England. This regional cross-sector activity is focussed on areas of
ageing research, biomarker discovery and their various contributions in projects and
emerging commercial applications within community based monitoring of elderly and
patients with chronic illness.
Regional academic expertise
Newcastle University:
The University has developed a theme, ‘Technology for an Ageing Population’
which is focused on the development, evaluation and implementation of the
devices, tools and technologies that facilitate healthy ageing and lifelong vitality
and promote independent living as people grow older.
The theme brings together academia, health care and industry to accelerate
translation of technology from laboratory to hospital and community care.
The Institute for Ageing and Health acts as a springboard around which to base
this initiative, giving focus and credibility to a disparate group of technologies and
personalities who can work together to develop this growing area of technology.
The Newcastle Brain Tissue Resource (NBTR) is run as a partnership between the
Medical Research Council (MRC), local NHS trusts and Newcastle University. The
bank has been developed over the past 30 years and contains a well-characterised
collection of fixed and frozen post-mortem material. Material includes post-mortem
tissue from both healthy elderly patients and from patients suffering from brain
disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson’s
disease, vascular dementia, motor neuron disease and major depression.
Regional approach to engagement with national and international
industry:
Cels has taken a regional lead in developing strategic links with major technology
providers on an International basis. These providers are directly involved in the area
of assistive technology targeting the ageing population and or developing strategies
to engage with the various market opportunities.
The region has connections to the member of the Continua Alliance, a non profit
open international industry alliance of the finest healthcare and technology
companies collaborating to improve the quality of personal healthcare. The mission
of Continua is to establish a system of interoperable health systems to empower
people, and organizations, to manage their own health and wellbeing. Continua has
numerous members, with notable names such as IBM, Bayer, Pfizer, Nokia and GE
Healthcare.
Local engagement with industry:
The region has a number of SME’s who are engaged in a variety of telehealth and
assisted living projects. These companies have been identified and are given
assistance where required or maintained in contact by the University or Cels network
HealthConnect or Science City, to help develop products and services , raise their
activity profile and increase their regional knowledge awareness as to the market
opportunity in this emerging sector.
Regional engagement with EU and international initiatives:The region as represented by Cels joined the AALIANCE network, a co-ordinated
action funded by EU 7th Framework which commenced in January 2008. AALIANCE
provides a framework for stakeholders, led by industry, to define research and
development priorities, timeframes, and action plans on strategically important issues
in Ambient Assisted Living (AAL).
The project’s is set up to develop a sustainable network of technology providers and
systems integrators, service providers, research organisations and end user
associations. This network of expertise is preparing and maintaining a Research and
Technology Development (RTD) roadmap and strategic research agenda for AAL
over the medium to long term.
From the above short description of the regions activities and expertise in this
area there is a clear offer of a broad capability in academic research of ageing
and the translation of this activity into products and services which can be
implemented into the marketplace in the short and medium term. A clear
opportunity now exists to share and expand this knowledge using a triple helix
approach to accelerate activity and realise significant progress in this highly
important area.
North East of England Triple-helix Partnership
One North East – is one of nine English Regional Development Agencies
(RDA) responsible for the economic development of North East England and
delivery of the Regional Economic Strategy (RES). One is also responsible
for the management and delivery of the regional ERDF Programme, has been
involved as a partner within RoK before (ARRGOS project, FP6) and has an
established track record both as lead and partner in a range of successful
Interreg and FP6/7 projects as the below map illustrates:
As demonstrated in the diagram below, healthcare and health sciences are
strongly embedded as one of the ‘three pillars’ of our RES due to the potential
the region has to develop long term economic competitiveness within this
sector:
Way Forward
Summary
Healthcare &
Health
Sciences
Centre for
Enabling
Technology
(Cenamps)
Design
Energy &
Environment
Process
Innovation
Private
Finance
Science &
Industry
Council
Physical
Centres
E-Business
(Codeworks)
Management
Skills
NStar
Universities
Science City/
City Regions
Cels (The Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences Ltd) - is partly funded by
One North East to drive the growth of the healthcare and life sciences
economy of North East England.
Cels is committed to developing scientific enterprise through development and
commercialisation of new technology, innovations and the exploitation of new
and emerging market opportunities. Cels drives growth in four main ways:
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By building and managing first-class business and research
infrastructure
By placing the region on the world stage through internationally
recognised networks
By managing emerging technology and stimulating the formation of
new business ventures
By offering business start-ups management and financial assistance.
In order to achieve this, Cels works in close partnership with the North East’s
regional universities, associated research institutes, healthcare and life
science companies and public sector organisations.
Specifically, Cels:


Supports the region’s existing and new healthcare and life sciences
companies
Attracts inward investment and new healthcare companies to the
region
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Helps companies diversify into healthcare markets
Sits at the hub of a global network of healthcare and bio clusters
Manages a regional networks for R&D and inter-company collaboration
(HealthConnect)
Develops and operates business incubator and bio-park facilities
Provides a range of commercial foresighting and business support
services
The North East has a growing and dynamic industrial base that spans from
multinational pharmaceutical companies to innovative spin outs and start-ups
in areas such as oncology and regenerative medicine.
Cels activity is focused on supporting partners in the following key subsectors:

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Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
Ageing and Health (including Assistive Technology)
Drug Discovery and Biomarkers
Diagnostics and Medical Devices
Biopharmaceutical Process Development
Cels aim is to support and bring together the strengths of the region’s
research, clinical and industrial expertise and create a compelling
environment for business development and growth.
Newcastle Science City - in December 2004, Newcastle was designated as
one of six English Science Cities by the UK Government. The Science Cities
were tasked with leading the development of deeper links between business
and the science base, and to ensure that science, technology and innovation
succeed in becoming the engine of economic growth.
Newcastle Science City has made great headway in its ambition to enhance
prosperity from science for Newcastle.
In 2005, Newcastle City Council, Newcastle University and One North East
formed a triple-helix partnership to develop the strategic vision and objectives
of Newcastle as a world class Science City, as it plays a key part in their
respective ambitions and strategies.
Newcastle University – is in the top 3 of UK Universities accessing FP
funding for research and is also linked to the Institute for Ageing and Health,
based at the Campus for Ageing and Vitality on the Newcastle General
Hospital site. The institute is unique in bringing together biological, clinical
and social scientists from across the region with NHS services for old age
medicine and psychiatry. Already recognised as Europe’s leading centre for
research related to ageing, it is well placed to capitalise on the extensive
commercialisation opportunities available and to deliver significant
economic/social benefits.
Opportunities include the identification and/or the development of:
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New understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underpinning agerelated frailty, disability and disease that will offer novel routes to intervene in
these processes.
Biomarkers of ageing that can be used to monitor the impact of new
interventions (basic science).
New models of health care delivery through the NHS and health care
industry (clinical science).
Novel assistive technologies that promote independent living, create
new market opportunities and reduce the cost of care (technology).
Comprehensive clinical and pre-clinical imaging resources that
together with existing world-class technical and research expertise in
radiochemistry, medical physics and imaging methodology, will facilitate
clinical and translational research in age-related diseases, including cancer
(scientific techniques).
The Ageing and Health theme within Newcastle Science City offers disruptive
approaches to meeting what is recognised globally as one of the greatest
challenges (and opportunities) confronting humanity in the 21st century.
Emma Harvey
Transnational Development Senior Specialist
One North East, 25th September 2009