The Life Science Hub is strategically positioned to drive innovation in cancer care – enabling collaboration between the NHS and industry to turn bold ideas into real-world impact for patients and communities.
We drive transformation across the NHS through two complementary pathways: scaling proven initiatives and piloting innovative projects. This dual approach ensures both immediate impact and future readiness.
We bring deep insight into NHS systems, pathways and decision making with Board level leadership and policy-to-practice experience. We combine out technical abilities with a deep understanding of the typical NHS challenges in the Life Science Sector. Our team enables and empowers the NHS to work more effectively and collaboratively with industry via a clear value improvement lens.
As a not-for-profit NHS organisation, financial and non-financial investment stays in the system - creating social value and enabling effective innovation at scale. Innovation with Impact.
By combining the rapid deployment of validated solutions with careful piloting of new approaches, the Life Science Hub creates a sustainable model for continuous improvement and innovation across the healthcare system.
Our vision
Together, we drive innovation in patient care – enabling collaboration between the NHS and industry to turn bold ideas into real-world impact for patients and communities.
Our objectives
- Focus innovation where it matters most - improving outcomes for our population and transforming how care is delivered.
- Unlock collaborative investment to accelerate projects with the power to spread and succeed across the system.
- Show tangible results through measurable improvements in quality, value, outcomes, and experience.
- Embed innovation at scale, harnessing the collective strength of commissioning, improvement, and transformation partners.
- Create a learning culture without barriers - a safe space to test, learn, and share what works, inspiring others to join the journey.
Our priorities
Our mandate with the (East and West) Midlands Cancer Alliances is to:
- Steer and deliver a joint NHS-Industry programme that improves cancer outcomes across participating Cancer Alliances
- Prioritise high-value challenges; match the best partners; mobilise safely and quickly
- Ensure alignment with national strategy, robust evaluation, measurable benefits, and spread proven practice.
Challenge and Opportunity areas for seven identified cancer pathways (Skin, Breast, Urology, Colorectal, Gynaecology, SACT and Upper GI) are:
- Early diagnosis and screening
- Pathway delays
- Multidisciplinary Team Efficiency
- Capacity workforce constraints
- Patient experience & equitable access.
More details are available by clicking here for East Midlands Cancer Alliance or the West Midlands Cancer Alliance webpages.
If you are currently working in, or with a cancer tumour pathway and would like to submit your challenge(s), please send us an email.
Overview: Midlands Cancer Alliances Life Sciences Hub
Ways to get involved or stay in touch
Together, we drive innovation in cancer care – enabling collaboration between the NHS and industry to turn bold ideas into real-world impact for patients and communities.
We want to hear from NHS, Industry, Academia or MedTech (potential) Partners where collaborative working would help gather new evidence for rapid development /scale up of NHS priorities. We want to create a collaborative working agreement.
Express your interest in working with us:
- Request a call with the team. Choose and book your timeslot here
- Follow us on LinkedIn
- Please send us an email.
RELEVANT READING
The NHS and its’ four CSUs already have a successful track record of delivering a range of activities helping the life science industry. Find out more by accessing the resources below.
Why partnering with life sciences is crucial to delivering the 10 Year Health Plan
Alison Tonge, our Executive Director of Strategy, Innovation and Planning and Lead Director for the NHS Life Science Hub, discusses how the 10 Year Health Plan's vision for a sustainable NHS can only be achieved through new ways of working including a greater role for innovation and partnership with life sciences to deliver genuine collaboration and to support wider economic growth for the UK.
Supporting the life sciences sector with Specialised Commissioning Training
Experts from the Life Science Hub collaborated with senior stakeholders within Boehringer Ingelheim to design and deliver four specialised 50-minute training modules.
Supporting the life sciences sector to deliver efficiencies through economic modelling for Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
Experts within our Life Science Hub supported Abbott Laboratories to quantify the impact of reducing initial amputations in Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) and Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia (CLTI) patients.
Supporting the life sciences industry to embed new technologies that help the prevention of atrial fibrillation strokes
Experts within our Life Science Hub were sponsored by the BMS-Pfizer Alliance to create an Atrial Fibrillation digital toolkit, allowing NHS commissioners to identify impactful treatments and interventions in their area.
CONTACT US
If you’d like to find out more about the Life Science Hub, please contact us here: