The government has given the go-ahead for new cancer treatments to be trialled in the UK, announcing a series of medical technology investments.
Projects looking at AI diagnostics and personalized immunotherapy treatments are among those that could benefit from a total of £148m of public and private sector investment.
To encourage businesses, research centers will also be established at universities across the country, with funding from the government and other investments.
The fund, worth a total of £118 million, will be set up at sites at University College London, the University of Liverpool, the University of Bristol, the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh.
Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science and Technology, said: “The support of cutting-edge technology not only brings hope of longer, healthier lives.”
He added: “They have the potential to grow the economy and will unlock significant investment in life sciences, driving jobs, opportunity and growth.”
“This is why the life sciences sector will be at the heart of next week’s International Investment Summit, as investors around the world recognize the value of this industry in growth and life-saving solutions.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “As a cancer survivor, I know how important early diagnosis and up-to-date cancer treatments are. “This investment will not only save lives but also strengthen the UK’s reputation as a life sciences and medical technology powerhouse. It will also secure your position.
“By combining the care of the NHS with the talent of our nation’s leading scientific minds, we can develop life-changing treatments for patients and help the UK economy grow rapidly.”
According to DSIT, treatments and technologies that could eventually be brought to market include inexpensive scanners to help detect early signs of cancer and diagnosing cancer through data shared across the NHS. This includes training AI models and more.
The announcement was made ahead of an international investment summit to be held later this month.
Publication date: June 10, 2024, Radio Newshub
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