NHS and life sciences: collaborating to shape the future

With the expected 10-year plan, life sciences sector plan and 10-year industrial strategy laying the foundations for future collaborative advancements between the NHS and life sciences, the sector has a significant opportunity to enhance the nation’s health and economic prosperity through encouraging and supporting investment in this high-growth sector. These advancements encompass everything from pharmaceutical and medtech development to genomic and diagnostic testing and digital health. For example, exciting innovations are harnessing AI for faster image interpretation and automating laboratory and genomic testing to dramatically improve treatment choices.

However, a thriving and dynamic life sciences industry that enhances patient care and collaborates with the efforts of integrated care systems (ICSs), voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs), and the broader health and care system through NHS collaboration has yet to reach its full potential. This is due to numerous barriers, including navigating different organisational cultures and contexts across the public and private sectors, and building relationships and trust between partners. Challenges persist in bridging the gap between the life sciences sector and the NHS and broader health and care system. These include limited or ringfenced funding, regulatory changes, and deeply entrenched barriers to scaling and adoption across the NHS.

This conference will explore opportunities to enhance current successes and strengthen collaborative approaches, and examine how key players in life sciences and the health and care sector can unite their ambitions, skills and resources to foster partnerships between the NHS and industry. Together, this collaboration will drive improvements in care, achieve better outcomes for people, and create meaningful change.