The UK government has outlined a new strategy for its life sciences sector, to ‘build on the successes of the COVID-19 response’.

The core mission of the new Life Sciences Vision’s aims to ensure scientific excellence in the UK over the next decade in a bid to enable the NHS to address the ‘most pressing’ health challenges.

Included in the strategy are seven healthcare missions focused on the early prevention, diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of disease, and the accelerated development and adoption of new drugs, diagnostics, medical technology and digital tools.
The strategy includes:

1. Accelerating the pace of studies into novel dementia treatments
2. Enabling early diagnosis and treatment, such as immune therapies
3. Sustaining the UK’s position in vaccine discovery, development and manufacturing
4. Treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease and its major risk factors
5. Reducing mortality and morbidity from respiratory disease in the UK and globally
6. Addressing the underlying biology of ageing
7. Increasing the understanding of mental health conditions.

Another core focus of the Life Sciences Vision is cultivating a ‘business environment’ that benefits UK life sciences firms, by enabling access to finance for innovation and growth.

To support this mission, the government has launched a £200m life sciences investment programme to support the potential of innovative life sciences companies in the UK.

The British Patient Capital also recently agreed to collaborate with Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company, which has committed to invest £800m into the UK life sciences industry under the partnership.

Clinical research activities in the UK are to benefit from £64m worth of dedicated funding as part of the government’s vision for ‘The Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery’.

The government has revealed the first phase of activity following the publication of the policy paper ‘The Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery’ in March 2021.

Over the coming months, this activity will include:

• The development of new COVID-19 treatments/vaccines
• The development of rapid ethics reviews and faster approval processes for clinical research
• Increasing clinical research capacity with more virtual and remote trials
• Increasing diversity and participation in research in traditionally underserved communities
• Digitising the clinical research process.

“Working with colleagues in the devolved administrations and across the sector on this ambitious plan will ensure that we develop a clinical research environment that benefits everyone in all parts of the UK,” said Lord Bethell, Minister for Innovation.

“This is the first step in a big ambitious vision. We will continue to build upon these strong foundations to deliver a research ecosystem that positions the UK as a global leader in cutting-edge clinical research. With research embedded across the NHS, UK will be a global leader in trials for new treatments and technologies,” he added.