Manchester’s leading health innovation campus, Citylabs, is set to expand again following high levels of demand as it continues to grow its presence as an international hub for genomics and precision medicine.
Manchester Science Partnerships (MSP) and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) have unveiled plans to develop Citylabs 4.0, a new £35 million development which will grow the existing Citylabs campus by 125,000 sq ft.
The Joint Venture partnership between MSP and MFT, the UK’s largest NHS provider Trust, is the first of its kind, with the first phase – Citylabs 1.0 – already home to a thriving cluster of diagnostics, medtech, digital health and genomics businesses who are driving the future of medicine and healthcare.
Subject to planning approval by Manchester City Council, Citylabs 4.0 will be built at the south of the MFT Oxford Road campus, adjacent to Citylabs 2.0 & 3.0, and provide 7 floors of office and lab space where brilliant research will be translated into new healthcare diagnostics and treatments which can then be quickly adopted into Manchester’s health system.
Businesses at Citylabs have access to clinical and academic collaborators located on the campus, and an extensive programme of business support including advice on funding sources, new markets, and professional services.
This campus extension follows the £60m expansion already underway to create Citylabs 2.0 and 3.0. Citylabs 2.0, currently under construction is due for completion in late 2020 and will be home to global diagnostics company QIAGEN, who will base their European Hub for Diagnostics Development at the campus. Citylabs 3.0, the redevelopment of the Old Saint Mary’s Hospital and adjoining chapel, has also received planning permission and will begin construction following the completion of Citylabs 2.0.
Rowena Burns, Chair, Manchester Science Partnerships, said: “We’ve seen huge developments and significant growth in the life sciences and digital technology sectors over the last five years, with pioneering solutions being created to tackle some of our most pressing health challenges. We’re keen to harness the opportunities created by the growth in these sectors and our plans for Citylabs 4.0 speak to this ambition.”
“At Citylabs we have created a dynamic ecosystem, a place where companies and researchers work side by side, benefiting from being co-located on Europe’s largest clinical academic campus.”
“We look forward to supporting these innovators in their ambitions to deliver improved health outcomes for our city region and beyond.”
Sir Michael Deegan, Group Chief Executive of MFT, said: “The proposed development of our Citylabs campus will further increase the interaction between our hospitals, staff and patients with industry, to help to develop the diagnostics and treatments of the future. It is essential that the NHS and industry work closely together, co-creating solutions to address real gaps in the technology and services we need to constantly improve the treatment outcomes for our patients.”
“Due to our successful joint venture with MSP, we now have many new collaborative projects and programmes underway that will benefit the services we provide to patients. This supports our vision is to improve the health and quality of life of our diverse population, by building an organisation that excels in quality, safety, patient experience, research, innovation and teaching.”
