UCLPartners has had its Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC) designation renewed for another five years.
An AHSC is a partnership between a healthcare provider and a university, with UCLPartners holding their AHSC title since 2009. AHSCs aim to create an environment for clinicians and academics working in some of the UK’s leading hospitals and universities to collaborate to deliver world class clinical and academic outcomes.
Recommended by a panel of international experts, the partnership will continue to draw on its world-class research and health education to improve patient care and healthcare delivery and to drive economic growth through partnerships with industry. It will bring scientific discoveries from the lab to the ward, operating theatre and general practice, to enable patients to benefit from innovative new treatments.
Professor David Fish, Managing Director of UCLPartners said: “We are delighted to receive this recognition, which wholeheartedly supports our ambition to accelerate medical discovery into large-scale clinical practice. Our members have worked tirelessly to align research, health education and clinical care for the benefit of patients and populations, and it is excellent to be recognised as one of the six globally-competitive AHSCs in the country.”
Professor Sir John Tooke, Academic Director of UCLPartners said: “UCLPartners has developed an exceptional foundation from which to drive forward its AHSC strategy in the future, and to make a real step change in health and wealth. By harnessing our remarkable academic capabilities and excellent clinical services we aspire to establishing a new benchmark for what can be achieved by an AHSC.”
The new designation of six AHSCs reflects England’s reputation as a world-leader in health research and health education, and the Government’s ambition to make the NHS the very best in research and healthcare. The five other NHS/university partnerships which have been designated by the Department of Health as AHSCs are: Cambridge University Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre, Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre, King’s Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre and Oxford Academic Health Science Centre.
Health Minister Lord Howe said: “When the NHS and universities come together they can achieve great things. These six partnerships are among the world leaders in health research, health education, and patient care and working with industry to promote economic growth.
I am delighted that international experts have recommended them as centres of excellence and am confident that this step will ensure that England continues to be at the forefront of medical research and treatment.”
