Midlands Engine Health and Life Sciences Symposium showcases region’s exceptional leadership

Taking place today [24 November], the Midlands Engine Health and Life Sciences Symposium, in conjunction with Midlands Innovation Health and Midlands Medilink, is the first event of its kind to showcase the outstanding research strengths and clinical expertise in the region – a sector that is worth £26bn annually in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the Midlands economy.

The symposium brings together academic, business, clinical and public sector leaders to reflect and build upon robust pan-regional partnerships which have already delivered over £53 million worth of research in the fight against COVID-19.

The event will also explore how regional excellence can be harnessed to address global healthcare challenges for increased wellbeing and productivity.

It is an important opportunity to accelerate areas of real and growing strength in the Midlands, such as MedTech, health data, immunology, genomics, clinical trials, design, regulation and manufacturing.

Midlands Engine Health is proud to champion and supports the work of partners from right across the region as they explore emerging opportunities that address immediate public health challenges, build the future of clinical research and realise better patient outcomes through health data science.

Featuring keynote speeches from Dame Professor Anne Johnson, President of the Academy of Medical Science, Professor Andrew Morris, Director of HDR UK, and Dr Louise Wood, Director of Science, Research and Evidence, DHSC – the symposium is a platform to reaffirm the region’s commitment and unique ability to level up healthcare, drive economic opportunity and trade, and advance health and medicine for the benefit of all Midlands communities.

Sir John Peace, Chairman of Midlands Engine, said:

The Midlands is renowned as a centre of excellence and innovation in a whole host of sectors, including truly remarkable strengths in health and life sciences.

This symposium quite rightly showcases our region’s wealth of clinical expertise, our powerful collaborative networks and world-class facilities. Globally recognised, our region’s leaders are transforming clinical outcomes, working to tackle health inequalities and creating the solutions to today’s and tomorrow’s health challenges.

This important event is also an opportunity to showcase exceptional investment opportunities which will generate significant scope for economic growth – creating high value, high skilled jobs – which underpin community health and prosperity.

These include the UK Centre of Excellence for Regulatory Science and Innovation, the National Rehabilitation Centre, the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus and the UK’s first 11.7 Tesla MRI in Nottingham, which will provide a world-leading platform for neuroscience and clinical study. All of these and many more demonstrate that the Midlands is truly at the heart of UK health and life sciences.

Professor Pauline Walsh, Convenor for MI Health Pro Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean of Medicine and Health Sciences at Keele University said:

The range of topics, speakers and workshops at this symposium highlights the breadth and strength of expertise we have within the Midlands.

I’m delighted we have been able to showcase our regional strengths and the extensive work that is taking place to advance health and medicine through research and clinical trials, train future medical staff and improve patient care at this socially-distanced event.