
Economic Opportunities
Jan 16 2025
Published 15 January 2021, a new report – Mobilising Research Excellence in the Midlands to Tackle COVID-19 – reveals that the Midlands has moved swiftly to apply the wealth of capability in our hospitals, universities and businesses to deliver £90m of research in support of regional, national and global efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
The report, published by Midlands Innovation Health, Midlands Health Alliance and Medilink Midlands supported by the Midlands Engine, highlights that:
The volume of research projects and clinical trials that the Midlands is not just involved in, but in many cases leading, is exceptional.
During the pandemic, the region’s outstanding clinical trials investigators and infrastructure have worked with national organisations to streamline processes in order to deliver complex and adaptive clinical trial designs, significant recruitment levels and high-quality execution at speeds that were previously thought to be impossible.
By combining this with the ability to integrate the expertise in the region with local infrastructure and community engagement, the region now boasts a world-class COVID-19 clinical trials environment.
Sir John Peace, Chairman of the Midlands Engine which has recently launched Midlands Engine Health, said:
The Midlands is delivering world-leading, life-changing clinical research in response to COVID-19. Working together across the region, the NHS, universities and industry are meeting the challenge, driving life-saving treatments for COVID-19 and improving outcomes.
Professor Ian Hall, Director of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre and Co-Chair of the Midlands Health Alliance said:
Nationally, the major part played by Midlands’ centres, particularly in recruitment to clinical trials, has been important. Without recruitment to these trials we would not have identified the drugs which we now know can be used in the treatment of hospitalised patients with COVID-19.
Download a copy of this Press Release.
Download the Mobilising Research Excellence in the Midlands to Tackle COVID-19 Report.
Economic Opportunities
Jan 16 2025
Green Growth
Feb 3 2025
Energy security has never been more urgent. In recent years, the UK has seen escalating challenges, from global geopolitical crises to rising energy prices. It is the Midlands, home to innovative industries and a strong manufacturing base, that is playing a major role in tackling these issues with the recent launch of the Midlands Engine Energy Security White Paper.
Read moreEconomic Opportunities
Feb 4 2025
Since December last year and throughout January, the Midlands Engine Partnership has led a series of Cluster deep dives - exploring the investment potential of some of the biggest clusters in our region - from aerospace to health technology.
Read more