Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC) opens for business

Press release: 20 November 2009

The Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre (MAHSC) will be officially launched today following its official designation earlier this year, with the publication of its strategy, “Partnership for the Patient: Bringing Benefit through Research, Education and Innovation”.

The showcasing event for Manchester’s health research focused on the theme of partnership which is core to delivery of the MAHSC strategy and realisation of the vision “to be a leading global centre for the delivery of innovative applied health research and education into healthcare”. Speakers at the event, including MAHSC Chair, Sir David Henshaw, and MAHSC Director, Professor Alan North FRS, will speak about:

  • The MAHSC partnership of The University of Manchester and six NHS Trusts
  • Partnership with the Department of Health, the Strategic Health Authority and other Government, regional and local stakeholders
  • Partnership with industry.

MAHSC covers the entire spectrum of activity from ‘molecule to metropolis’ embracing laboratory discovery right through to NHS service innovation in the community. It will focus on five key health themes: cancer, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory diseases and repair, human development and mental health including neurodegenerative diseases. To support the delivery of health benefits in these areas MAHSC will also provide cross-cutting activities in technology, clinical trials and implementation of research findings into patient service.

MAHSC will deliver added value to the activities of its founding partners by developing:

  • An integrated health system for improved and accelerated translational medicine
  • A strategic approach to funding proposals, investment in research, infrastructure, training and education across the partners
  • Harmonised processes and standard operating procedures
  • A single point of access for external partners and stakeholders
  • Cultural change responsive to research and the uptake of innovation within the whole community

MAHSC has already initiated three pilot programmes. The first is collecting blood samples to understand whether there are any underlying genetic markers for patients that suffer from more than one illness, for example diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The second is a programme to develop public engagement in health research - ’citizen scientists’. The third is an industry liaison programme run through MIMIT® targeted at SMEs in health technology. 

Notes for Editors:

  1. MAHSC is a partnership between The University of Manchester, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust, NHS Salford (Salford Primary Care Trust), Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust.
  2. The MAHSC Strategy, “Partnership for the Patient: Bringing Benefit through Research, Education and Innovation” is available as download on the MAHSC website. MAHSC has the tripartite mission of research and innovation, education and training and healthcare. Research and innovation will be embedded as a driver of quality and productivity in alignment with the NHS Quality, Innovation, Production, Prevention (QIPP) framework.
  3. MIMIT® is Manchester: Integrating Medicine and Innovative Technology and is supported by the MAHSC partners. This exciting initiative, unique in the UK, facilitates collaborations between clinicians, scientists, engineers and industry to develop innovative technology for patient benefit. MIMIT™ is the first international affiliate of the highly successful Center for Integrating Medicine & Innovative Technology (CIMIT®), Boston, USA