Published: 21 March 2024
The NIHR has announced £17.9m in funding to the Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre network, supporting it for an additional four years.
The funding will be given to the network to enhance the UK environment for advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMP) clinical trials. ATMPs are treatments including gene therapy, cell therapies or tissue engineered products. The new funding will help to maintain the UK’s reputation as a location of choice for advanced therapy research.
Innovate UK will provide oversight of the funds, and the Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) Catapult will provide coordination of the network.
What is the Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre (ATTC) network?
The ATTC network currently comprises three centres:
- Innovate Manchester Advanced Therapy Centre Hub
- Midlands-Wales Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre
- Northern Alliance Advanced Therapies Treatment Centre
The CGT Catapult provides coordination for the network.
The UK is a world leader in ATMP clinical research. There are 175 ongoing trials being carried out here, and 9% of global ATMP trials have representation in the UK. Many more products are in development and further action is needed to ensure that the NHS is able to bring advanced therapies to patients at scale across the UK.
Through this further funding, and in close collaboration with NIHR infrastructure and the devolved equivalents, the ATTC network aims to build on its work on advanced therapy clinical trial readiness to ensure the UK maintains its position as a globally attractive location for clinical research.
Health Minister Andrew Stephenson said: “This investment reaffirms the UK’s position as a global leader in clinical research. It will help roll out revolutionary medical products more quickly, potentially treating the root cause of disorders and diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer. Harnessing technological and digital innovations is one of our primary focuses under the first ever NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, enabling new and advanced ways of working.”
Professor Marian Knight, Scientific Director for NIHR Infrastructure said: “The NIHR is committed to ensuring that the UK provides a research environment to enable rapid assessment of new advanced therapies with the potential to transform health and care. Partnerships such as these, linked with existing NIHR research infrastructure, will help ensure that the UK public is able to benefit from these ground-breaking new treatments.”
Dr Stella Peace, Executive Director for the Healthy Living and Agriculture Domain at Innovate UK, said: “From our initial investment to now overseeing the delivery of the new four-year programme, our goal is to ensure the UK maintains its global leadership in clinical research. Our commitment to fostering innovation and scientific advancements is crucial for sustaining this leadership. This drives medical breakthroughs, as well as strengthening the UK economy by attracting investments, generating high-skilled jobs, and positioning us at the forefront of transformative healthcare discoveries.”
Matthew Durdy, Chief Executive of the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult commented: “Advanced therapies have the potential to transform healthcare, providing a range of new, life-changing treatments to patients. Thanks to far-sighted investments, like this commitment by NIHR and the on-going support of Innovate UK, the UK is recognised globally as a pioneer in advanced therapies. With the continued great work of the ATTC network, we hope to further build the reputation of the UK.”