WE are at an exciting point in time when it comes to research into Asthma. The adoption of technology in healthcare has opened up new ideas and ways of treating a host of different conditions – and, with a proud history of respiratory research in the North, the opportunities for asthma research here are significant.

Which is why today the Northern Health Science Alliance is delighted to be joining together with Asthma UK to explore how the North can become a global leader in asthma research and care delivery.

Asthma is an important area of research that can deliver benefits for health and wealth in the UK. Its prevalence is high, and rising at a global level, bringing a strong need for new investigations into this area.

Here in the North we are uniquely well-placed to support this research with exceptional institutions, talent and infrastructure all working together pan-regionally across a patient population of 15million.

At today’s event we’ve got some of the best-respected names in the country taking part. Professor Iain Buchan, Clinical Professor in Public Health Informatics at the University of Manchester, will speak on how health data can be used effectively to inform asthma treatment on a national scale through the North’s Connected Health Cities programme – which is being run and managed by the NHSA.

Dr David Leather, Medical Vice President, GSK Respiratory Franchise London will look at New models of collaboration and innovative research in the North, examples from the Salford Lung Study.

And Dr Meera Swami, Business Development Manager, MRC Technology (MRCT) Research will speak on Collaborative drug discovery, discussing bringing together academia, charities and industry to discover novel therapeutics.

The North is home to fantastic talent and an infrastructure capable of driving a transformational agenda for the wealth and health benefit of all. This Asthma UK event is the start of what we hope will be a global opportunity for asthma research and care.