TODAY the Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) is celebrating five years of driving forward health innovation in the North of England.

Since its beginnings in 2011 the NHSA has worked to be a voice for the North’s Health Science community joining together the eight leading  research universities, research-intensive NHS teaching Trusts and the four northern Academic Health Science Networks from across the North.

Over the five years of its existence it has brought in £60m worth of contracts to the North, acted as a collaborative voice for the North’s £10.8bn health science economy, worked with companies from Sweden, Germany, USA and Singapore and led successful collaborations to attract health science investment.

Lord Prior of Brampton, health minister, said:

“I’m delighted to celebrate five years since the formation of the Northern Health Science Alliance, which is an important voice for the northern cluster. The UK has a world-leading Life Sciences industry, and building on this industry in the north is vital to the country’s continued growth and success. I’m excited to see what the future holds for the NHSA, and look forward to the next five years being even more successful.”

Dr Hakim Yadi Chief Executive of the Northern Health Science Alliance said:

“The Northern Health Science Alliance was set up to help the North’s health science economy to realise its full potential.

“In just five years we have achieved a lot by putting the North firmly on the health science agenda for the UK as a whole and bringing together a diverse range of institutions to work together for the good of the North and the UK such as the world-leading £20m Health North: Connected Health Cities programme.

“But there is still so much we want to achieve – and that the North can achieve. We would like to see further commitment to Health North and a continuing re-balancing of the economy through support for innovation and excellence in the sector.

“The North has a wealth of potential in health science with world-class universities, medical schools, clinical trial excellence and expertise which can help the North develop into a powerhouse of health science.”

Professor Ian Greer, NHSA Chair and Vice-President and Dean of The University of Manchester’s Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health said:

“Five years ago when we established the Northern Health Science Alliance we knew we had brought together something very special and valuable from across the North of England.

“The North has a huge part to play to growing the value of the UK’s health economy as a whole. We are looking forward to continuing to work with government and other stakeholders to deliver great economic and health impact to make the UK one of the world’s leading lights in health science.”