The Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) is celebrating five years of driving forward health innovation in the North of England.

Since its beginnings in 2011 the NHSA has worked to be a voice for the North’s Health Science community joining together the top eight research universities, top eight NHS teaching Trusts and its four academic health science networks.

Over the five years it has brought in £60m worth of contracts to the North, acted as a collaborative voice for the North’s £10.8bn health science economy, worked with companies from Sweden, Germany, USA and Singapore and led successful collaborations to attract health science investment.

Professor Ian Greer, NHSA Chair and Vice-President and Dean of The University of Manchester's Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, said: “Five years ago when we established the Northern Health Science Alliance we knew we had brought together something very special and valuable from across the North of England.

“The North has a huge part to play to growing the value of the UK’s health economy as a whole. We are looking forward to continuing to work with government and other stakeholders to deliver great economic and health impact to make the UK one of the world’s leading lights in health science.”

To celebrate the NHSA held a roundtable in Westminster last week to discuss health research funding in the North attended by Nicola Blackwood and senior figures from the North’s Universities, NHS trusts and academic health science networks including Professor Greer, NHSA CEO Dr Hakim Yadi and NHSA board members Dr Liz Mear from Innovation Agency and Siobhan McArdle CEO of South Tees NHS trust.

Other roundtable attendees included: Sir Alan Langlands, Vice Chancellor, University of Leeds, Professor Dame Pamela Shaw, Pro-Vice Chancellor for the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health, University of Sheffield, Professor Deborah Smith, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, University of York, Keith Chantler, Chief Executive, North West NHS Innovation Service, Professor John Simpson, Dean of Translational Research & Professor of Respiratory Medicine, Newcastle University, Sir Andrew Cash, Chief Executive of Sheffield Hospitals.

An evening celebration at the Wellcome Collection in London saw over 175 of the North’s leading lights in health science come together to hear keynote speeches from Chair of NHS England and Chancellor of the University of York Sir Malcolm Grant and Lord Prior of Brampton Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health.

Lord Prior said: “I’m delighted to celebrate five years since the formation of the Northern Health Science Alliance, which is an important voice for the northern cluster.

“The UK has a world-leading Life Sciences industry, and building on this industry in the North is vital to the country’s continued growth and success. I’m excited to see what the future holds for the NHSA, and look forward to the next five years being even more successful.”

Dr Hakim Yadi Chief Executive of the Northern Health Science Alliance said: “The Northern Health Science Alliance was set up to help the North’s health science economy to realise its full potential.

“In just five years we have achieved a lot putting the North firmly in the health science agenda for the UK as a whole and bringing together a diverse range of institutions to work together for the good of the North and the UK such as the world-leading £20m  Health North: Connected Health Cities programme.

“But there is still so much we want to achieve - and that the North can achieve. We would like to see further commitment to Health North and a continuing re-balancing of the economy through support for innovation and excellence in the sector.

“The North has a wealth of potential in health science with world-class universities, medical schools, clinical trial excellence and expertise which can help the North develop into a powerhouse of health science.”

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