New Life Sciences Research Alliance Launches In NI
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A new collaboration between local government, academic, clinical and life sciences constituencies has resulted in the forming of the Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland (HIRANI), designed to deliver the wealth and health potential of the country’s life sciences ecosystem.
The alliance will serve as a voice for the health and life sciences sector, which will allow it to promote itself on an international scale, while driving collaboration and connectivity, and providing an entryway for external collaborators looking to partner with the region.
Steve Bates, chief executive of the BioIndustry Association, welcomed the news, saying that the organisation will bring together research bodies, healthcare providers, supply chains and companies to identify and support the opportunities that abound within the life sciences ecosystem in NI.
He went on to say that its launch is even more proof of just how well the sector is doing in the region, as well as showing robust the industry throughout the entire UK is doing as well.
Mike Thompson, chief executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), made further comments, saying: “Northern Ireland has long punched well above its weight in terms of life sciences innovation, particularly in the fields of respiratory disease, heart disease and cancer.
“HIRANI will make it easier for its network of universities, industry, and health organisations to work together to achieve improved health and social care outcomes for Northern Ireland’s 1.8 million residents, as well as sustained economic growth for the region.”
The alliance itself aims to drive commercial research and innovation activity across NI by addressing complicated barriers to allow research to be translated into patient benefits, as well as value for the economy.
It also intends to exploit the capability of clinical trials and infrastructure in order to create a greater number of industry-focused opportunities, working alongside health and social care on clinical trials, research and development, and digital health initiatives in both Northern Ireland and further afield.
Last month (May), research carried out by WPI and published at the ABPI annual conference, revealed that the science and technology industry (which the life sciences sector is strongly associated with) could be responsible for new growth worth an additional £14 billion a year to the economy come the year 2025.
Life sciences itself could have the biggest impact, adding an extra £8.5 billion of growth, as well as an extra 31,400 jobs.
Off the back of the report, the ABPI called on the government to increase its efforts to hit targets of 2.4 per cent of GDP being spent on research and development by 2027.
It must also do all it can to close the growing skills gap in the life sciences industry, with some highly skilled scientific roles potentially moving to other places around the world if the crisis isn’t addressed urgently.