This represents just one example of innovation being championed by the UK's seven new regulatory science powerhouses.
Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, in partnership with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Office for Life Sciences, and the Medical Research Council have announced seven Centres of Excellence for Regulatory Science and Innovation (CERSIs).
The projects, led by academic institutions, independent innovators, or regulatory leaders forming collaborative partnerships, will receive funding up to £1 million each, to lead the way in safer, faster pathways for innovative medicines and devices.
One project, led by Brunel University, aims to revolutionise regulation to bring more AI-powered healthcare products to the UK. These include diagnostics, devices which predict and treat ill-health, software which makes physical devices work and smartphone apps.
Meanwhile, the University of Liverpool will lead on a project which explores the potential of pharmacogenomics; the study of how the variation of the human genome affects the efficacy and safety of medicines. Its uptake in the NHS has been slowed by lack of clear guidelines, a challenge which this project seeks to address.
This network of centres aims to improve healthcare by simplifying how treatments move from lab bench to patient bedside.
By helping researchers and businesses address regulatory challenges and opportunities, the centres will help accelerate the delivery of pioneering treatments, ensuring patients benefit from cutting-edge innovations.
For the delivery of CERSIs, Innovate UK created the Regulatory Science and Innovation Networks (RSINs) competition, inviting experts from academia, industry, and charities to reimagine medical innovation pathways.
Supported by the MHRA alongside partners including the Medical Research Council and Office for Life Sciences, the programme is comprised of two phases.
The first, the Discovery Phase, is now complete. 17 networks received initial funding to explore bold ideas, build relationships and develop their proposals.
Now, seven networks have been chosen to move into the Implementation Phase, where they will use their funding to establish their CERSIs and bring their proposals to life.
These seven CERSIs will tackle key challenges in regulatory science, in areas such as Advanced Therapies, Precision Medicines, Digital Healthcare, Drug Discovery and Diagnostics.
During the coming year, the CERSIs will develop tools, frameworks, and guidance to help shape the development and approval of medical innovations in the UK.