Unleashing the potential of partnerships, data, and innovation to lead in life sciences.
Chamber UK were pleased to join IQVIA’s Life Sciences Forum, featuring experts and industry leaders, with Lord Patrick Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Research, and Innovation, joining as a keynote speaker.
In his keynote speech, Lord Vallance underscored the need for cross-sector collaboration between Government, industry, and academia to fuel innovation, economic resilience, and healthcare progress. He pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of the power of collaboration in driving rapid and effective health responses.
Mobilising Data for Better Health Outcomes
One of Vallance’s central points was the transformative potential of the UK’s health data resources. With assets like the UK Biobank and Genomics England, the UK holds a unique advantage in advancing early diagnosis and personalised medicine. Vallance called for a national data library to streamline access and consolidate existing resources, but he stressed the importance of stringent data security and patient consent. Reinforcing this theme, Chief Data and Analytics Officer (NHS England) Ming Tang, in a later panel, highlighted the need for collaborative partnerships to maximise data utilisation, noting that decentralised data management could improve local healthcare efficiencies.
The Role of Partnerships in Crisis and Beyond
Reflecting on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, Vallance underscored the importance of cross-sector partnerships. He pointed to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) survey as a model of successful collaboration, turning a resource-limited project into a critical tool for pandemic response. This spirit of partnership is needed to address ongoing healthcare challenges, such as the rise in dementia and obesity. Hillary Evans-Newton, co-chair of the Dementia Mission, echoed this sentiment later, advocating for accelerated dementia research and patient-centred programmes to address this growing health crisis.
Life Sciences as a Cornerstone of Economic Growth
Vallance illustrated how life sciences can drive both health and economic outcomes, especially with over 300,000 people employed across the UK in this sector, backed up by separate Government research showcasing the contributions and competitiveness of the UK Life Sciences Industry. However, he acknowledged the need for clear regulatory frameworks to foster sustainable, long-term growth in the industry. Former Life Sciences Minister and Curia Health, Care and Life Sciences Research Group Advisor, Lord James O’Shaughnessy, reinforced this by advocating for long-term infrastructure funding to ensure stability, a necessary step for attracting further private investment and sustaining growth in clinical research.
Revolutionising Clinical Trials and Patient Access
The UK’s standing in global clinical trials emerged as a critical area for improvement. Vallance discussed the challenges of declining commercial trials, a concern shared by Professor Mark Lawler of Queen’s University Belfast, who noted the need to reverse this trend to maintain the UK’s competitiveness. Panellists throughout the conference recommended creating strategic partnerships to encourage diversity in trials and improve patient recruitment, citing the success of London’s Integrated Care Systems (ICS) programme in engaging underrepresented populations.
Preparing the NHS for a Data-Driven Future
Data integration within the NHS was identified as a foundational need. Dr Shanker Vijayadeva, NHS England’s Digital Transformation Lead, highlighted the potential of digital solutions, such as AI-driven diagnostics and self-referral systems, to improve primary care. However, he cautioned against digital exclusion, advocating for a ‘blended care’ (where in-person and online care work together) approach to ensure inclusivity.
Further exploring ways to promote data use in healthcare, Dr Amanda Begley of the Health Innovation Network emphasised the role of behavioural change and data literacy training for healthcare professionals to maximise the benefits of these technologies
Final Thought
Lord Vallance’s keynote and the contributions from panellists painted a unified vision for the UK as a leader in life sciences, driven by a commitment to innovation, partnership, and inclusivity.
As the UK moves forward, the alignment of data resources, regulatory reform, and government backing will be essential to securing this position. The path laid out by these thought leaders underscored a shared ambition to build a healthcare system that not only meets the needs of today but is resilient for the challenges of tomorrow.
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