In a sky-high collaboration, the National Institute for Health and Social Care’s Northern Applied Research Collaborations (ARCs) of North East and North Cumbria, Greater Manchester, North West Coast, and Yorkshire and Humber joined forces for a two-day conference showcasing the pinnacle of life sciences and key medical technology advancements across Northern England.

The Great North Research Conference for the Life Sciences and Medical Technology Industries, organised by NIHR Clinical Research Network of North East and North Cumbria, was set against the backdrop of the iconic Concorde Conference Centre at Manchester Airport on 21st and 22nd November and attracted professionals, experts and enthusiasts from across the UK, offering educational and interactive presentations – as well as tours of Concorde!

Key note speakers included former Health Minister Lord O’Shaughnessy, while Professor Alistair Hall shared insights into reports, advancements and latest developments in the life sciences industry from across the NIHR infrastructure.

The ARC teams, representing North West Coast (ARC NWC), Greater Manchester (ARC GM), North East and North Cumbria (ARC NENC) and Yorkshire and Humber (ARC YH) managed a dedicated stall at the event providing attendees with a glimpse into their innovative regional and national projects to reduce health inequalities and how their work is aligned with national health and social care priorities.

Day one’s breakout sessions navigated diversity, equity, and inclusion featuring Xoli Belgrave from Parexel, decentralized trials with NIHR National Patient Recruitment Centres and collaborative strategies in the north by Oliver Buckley Mellor from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).

Day two’s sessions took flight with Phil Brown from ABHI on regulation and Dr. Ian Newington from NIHR Central Commissioning Facility discussing funding opportunities.

Sian Cunningham, Communications Officer for ARC NWC, said: “The Northern ARCs collaborated today to inspire the audience and convinced them of the value of investing in research in the North, outlined the innovation taking place and its impact which is benefitting organisations, service users and communities. This event has shown the advantage of ARCs working together in collaboration and uniting to demonstrate the pioneering research in the North of the country.”