Thursday 26 September saw Baroness Blackwood, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Innovation at the Department of Health and Social Care, visit Birmingham Health Partners at the ITM for a broad introduction to our work. On the agenda were our new Health Data Research Hubs, expertise in patient-reported outcomes research and the critical global challenge of women’s and children’s health.
The Minister also had chance to discuss the University of Birmingham’s ambitious plans to develop a £300m Birmingham Life Sciences Park. Once completed, the park is forecast to generate over £180 million GVA (gross value added) and 3,600 jobs over 10 years, with the potential to catalyse a further 10,000 jobs and £400 million GVA across the West Midlands.
During her visit, Baroness Blackwood held discussions with Dr John Williams, Managing Director of Birmingham Health Partners, and clinical experts including:
- Dr Elizabeth Sapey, Director of PIONEER – The Health Data Research Hub for Acute Care
- Professor Alastair Denniston, Director of INSIGHT – The Health Data Research Hub for Eye Health
- Professor Melanie Calvert, Director of the Centre for Patient Reported Outcomes Research at the University of Birmingham
- Tim Jones, Executive Director for Innovation at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
- Dr Kate Morris, Reader in Maternal Fetal Medicine at the University of Birmingham
- Professor Pam Kearns, Director of the Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Birmingham
Birmingham Life Sciences Park will encourage closer collaboration between industry, clinicians and academics. Patients will benefit from early access to healthcare innovations, which will also generate commercial opportunities for UK businesses.
