For Researchers

Why do we work with industry?

One of the most efficient and direct ways that scientific findings can be translated into products that benefit our patients is through co-development in partnership between academia and industry. Many cutting-edge findings stem from these collaborations via the sharing of resources and expertise.

These partnerships can take various forms to suit the shape of research, and we have many successes in this area, such as the PALOH study which, working with diagnostic company genedrive plc, trialled a ground-breaking genetic test to prevent critically ill newborn babies going deaf.

Here at the NIHR BRC: Manchester, we aim to support our researchers to make key links with industry partners to identify mutually beneficial areas of interest and translate these into impactful outputs.

Collaborating with industry provides a fantastic opportunity to access expertise, funding and translate research into real-world impact.

Commercialising your research

Some of the most direct routes from research discovery to patient benefit involve commercialisation, spin-outs, licencing, or strategic collaboration with industry partners. Protecting the intellectual property (IP) of our researchers is a key factor in the commercial attractiveness and subsequent success of commercialisation activity.

Commercially attractive IP is managed through local technology transfer teams such as The University of Manchester Innovation Factory and the Innovation Team at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. Our Innovation and Partnerships Team can work with academic and student inventors and the wider Greater Manchester infrastructure to support the identification, protection and impact of their research outputs.

If you are an NIHR BRC: Manchester researcher and think your work may have commercial potential, please contact the Innovation and Partnerships Team as early as possible at brc-crfpartnerships@mft.nhs.uk, ideally before public disclosure.

For industry, co-design is not just about compliance- it’s about creating solutions that work for patients and clinicians alike.

Innovator Insights blog series

NIHR BRC: Manchester researchers share their innovation journeys and lessons learned in our Innovator Insights blog series:

• Advancing dermatology research through industry partnerships with Dr Ali Al-Janabi (pictured)
• Co-designing research with purpose – how collaboration and patient involvement shaped the RAD-PIT study by Melissa Perry
• Uniting industry, NHS and academia in respiratory innovation with Dr Gareth Kitchen
• Integrating digital innovations in mental health care with Professor Sandra Bucci

Establishing a spin-out offered a vehicle for translation that traditional academic pathways couldn’t provide at the time. It allowed us to secure different types of investment, build a multidisciplinary team beyond academia, and focus on product development and implementation in a way that aligns with the needs of health services.

Training opportunities

Our Innovator Training Scheme offers a range of online resources to help researchers work effectively with industry partners to develop innovations, navigate pathways to clinical impact and commercialisation, and ultimately improve outcomes for patients.

The scheme is designed to equip researchers with the skills needed to translate research into innovations, by covering key aspects including intellectual property, collaborating with industry, generating real-world evidence, navigating the regulatory pathway, and securing translational research funding.

To explore this and further training opportunities please visit our training pages.

Funding opportunities

Commercially focused research opens the door to collaborative funding opportunities. There are several funding streams with a core focus on encouraging partnerships with industry such as the UKRI Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.

We also promote a range of innovation and partnerships focused pump priming funding calls throughout the year. Please contact the Team for further information or visit our funding opportunities page to find information on opportunities for translational and experimental medicine research projects from the NIHR BRC: Manchester and partner organisations.