A Giant Leap for Regenerative Medicine

World-leading research into Regenerative Medicine pioneered at The University of Nottingham has taken a step closer to creating a new kind of healthcare industry.

A new £8.3 million Centre for Innovative Manufacturing will concentrate on developing new treatments for chronic disease and age-related health problems using groundbreaking therapies like stem cell treatment, tissue engineering, pharmaceutical therapies and surgical techniques involving new medical devices.

With funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and industry partners the new enterprise, to be led by Loughborough University along with Keele and Nottingham Universities, is one of three designated Innovative Manufacturing Research Centres recently announced by Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson being established to help UK businesses and research institutions develop the technology products of the future.

Professor of Advanced Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering at The University of Nottingham, Kevin Shakesheff, said: “The Nottingham teams who will be part of the new Centre have pioneered important new science in tissue engineering.

By working with Loughborough, Keele and the numerous commercial partners that form the Centre we will accelerate the difficult translation of this new science into new products, originated in the East Midlands, that address worldwide medical needs.”

Professor of Healthcare Engineering at Loughborough, David Williams, added: “Without doubt, RM has massive potential - especially for tackling chronic, debilitating conditions like heart disease and arthritis that will become increasingly prevalent due to our ageing population.

Yet it’s not enough simply to come up with clever ideas for curing such conditions. It’s about translating ideas into safe, affordable, cost-effective treatments that combine life-changing impact for patients with maximum commercial value.”