The National Measurement Laboratory (NML) at LGC and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) will work together to create a new research hub drawing on each organisation’s world-leading expertise.
The partnership will establish the PRISM (precision, reproducibility, innovation and standardisation in metrology for infectious diseases) hub of excellence at LSTM later this year. PRISM will work on developing new diagnostics and conducting research into antimicrobial resistance (AMR), biomanufacturing, and engineering biology. These efforts will support the safe, effective, and rapid development of cutting-edge health technologies.
The creation of the hub will expand joint research activity and collaborations between LSTM’s BRITE programme and NML, the UK’s designated institute for chemical and biological measurements, whose work underpins health and life sciences research and innovation.
Professor Jonathan Ball, Deputy Vice Chancellor, LSTM said: “By bringing together LSTM’s translational research expertise with the NML’s world-leading measurement science capabilities, we are creating new opportunities for innovators and partners across the UK and internationally.”
Dr Julian Braybrook, Director of the National Measurement Laboratory at LGC, said: “Formalising this place-based partnership with LSTM allows the leveraging of our complementary geographic and infrastructural scientific strengths to better boost national health impacts and strengthen UK leadership capability.”
Dr Becky Jones-Phillips, Director of Enterprise & Innovation at LSTM, said: “We are delighted to formalise our partnership with the National Measurement Laboratory at LGC through the establishment of PRISM. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to strengthening the innovation ecosystem required to deliver impactful, equitable solutions for global health.”
LSTM’s Dr Daire Cantillon will be PRISM’s Academic in Residence, leading on AMR research as well as working closely with other NML Hubs to embed metrology-focused research nationally and internationally. Dr Tom Edwards from LSTM’s Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics will lead laboratory studies to assess diagnostics for emerging viruses.
The partnership is already delivering critical projects. Alongside BRITE, which is enabling the Liverpool City Region to be a leader in biologics development, the partners have also commenced a £3million-funded European project, XMET, which will strengthen the UK’s position in shaping measurement science for health across Europe.
