NIHR | Manchester Biomedical Research Centre

Spotlight On: Innovation and Partnerships

Collaboration and partnership with industry plays a key role in helping researchers and clinicians develop successful new tests and treatments for patients.

In this series, we are shining a Spotlight On the range and impact of the cutting-edge research here at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). Here we focus on the Innovation and Partnerships Team.

Manchester BRC partners with science-based organisations that have a strategic fit with our vision to drive personalised health and care for all.

Watch the film below to find out how Manchester BRC collaborates with industry partners to accelerate impactful research across Greater Manchester, Lancashire and South Cumbria. This collaboration gives patients access to world-leading treatments, diagnostic tests and medical technologies to improve people’s lives and reduce health inequalities.

Learn about the benefits of collaborating with Manchester BRC

By combining clinical and academic expertise, cutting-edge research, and strong partnerships with industry, Manchester BRC turns pioneering new ideas and scientific discoveries into practical solutions that improve people’s lives. The success of industry partnerships is built on 4 key strengths: co-development for collective impact, a thriving innovation ecosystem, inclusivity, and ease of collaboration.

Co-development for collective impact

Manchester BRC works at the interface of the NHS, industry, and academia to create meaningful research collaborations. Partners benefit from access to leading clinical and academic expertise, opportunities to shape experimental medicine, and improved diagnostics and treatments for patients.

A thriving innovation ecosystem

Manchester BRC is co-located within the Oxford Road Corridor, in collaboration with Bruntwood SciTech on the Citylabs initiative – Europe’s largest clinical academic campus in Manchester. This thriving ecosystem supports partnerships between the NHS, universities, and the life sciences industry. By working closely with industry, researchers are supported to license, scale, and commercialise innovations, transforming research into real-world applications that improve patient outcomes.

Empowering and educating innovators

Manchester BRC fosters innovation by supporting researchers through its Innovator Training Scheme. These initiatives help researchers explore alternative career paths, build entrepreneurial skills, and navigate complex areas such as intellectual property and funding. The BRC provides hands-on guidance and connects innovators with industry experts, ensuring they have the tools and partnerships needed to bring ideas successfully to market.

Inclusivity in commercial clinical trials

Manchester BRC’s vision is to drive lasting change for all. To achieve this, we need to ensure as many people as possible from our diverse communities take part in groundbreaking clinical trials to ensure new drugs and innovations work for as many people as possible. Without participants from a broad range of backgrounds it is not possible to understand how study findings will translate into real-world application. Our Enhancing Inclusivity in Commercial Clinical Trials project aims to unite industry, patients, and clinicians to achieve this goal.

Ease of doing business

Our dedicated Innovation and Partnerships Team is here to help you to identify the right people to collaborate with, to make your partnership with us a success.

The team works alongside all of our 13 research Themes open for collaborative opportunities from partners across the life sciences sector.

Complete the industry enquiry Google Form and get in touch via brc-crfpartnerships@mft.nhs.uk .

Find out more about Innovation and Partnerships at Manchester BRC.

Our Themes and Clusters

Our 13 research Themes collaborate in 4 Clusters, to enhance partnership working and cover a wider geographical reach, so we can:

  • Focus on inflammation – a process common to conditions of the joints, chest, heart, blood vessels and skin
  • Find ways to detect cancer early – tailor treatments to the individual, improve radiotherapy and care for those living with and beyond cancer
  • Shine a light on sometimes overlooked areas – such as hearing and deafness, mental health and rare genetic conditions.
  • Understand disease mechanisms – using a variety of new methods to better diagnose and treat patients.
A circle split into quarters. Each quarter shows a cluster and the research themes within that cluster.

The 4 Clusters are:

  • Cancer (prevention and early detection, advanced radiotherapy, precision medicine, living with and beyond cancer)
  • Inflammation (rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease, respiratory medicine, dermatology, integrative cardiovascular medicine)
  • Under-researched Conditions (hearing health, mental health, rare conditions)
  • Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Catalyst (next generation phenotyping and diagnostics, next generation therapeutics).

Catch up on our previous Spotlight On films now:

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