Liverpool set to become centre for fighting infectious diseases after funding boost
Liverpool City Region is set to lead the world in combating infectious disease with the creation of a new hub working with the University of Liverpool.
More than a million pounds of Innovation Zone funding has been pledged to set up the Microbiome and Infectious Disease Innovation Hub (MaID), which organisers hope will give the city a foothold in a lucrative and expanding global market worth billions of pounds.
Microbiomes are communities of microorganisms that live throughout the human body which play a crucial role in digestion, metabolism, mucus production and lubrication, and serve as a first line of defence against harmful organisms.
Backers say that there are potential uses in veterinary health, agriculture and consumer markets and as alternative to antibiotics, and that their potential in healthcare is continuing to grow, helping to develop new approaches for tackling cancer, mental health disorders, inflammatory bowel disease and the global threat of antimicrobial resistance.
Liverpool Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said: 'This is exactly the kind of project our Innovation Zone was designed to support – bold, world-leading science that creates jobs, attracts investment, and tackles some of the greatest challenges facing global health.
'The Liverpool City Region has the talent, expertise and ambition to lead the way in microbiome innovation, and the MaID hub is a fantastic example of how we're turning that potential into progress.
'By backing cutting-edge research and helping businesses scale, we're putting our region firmly on the map as a global force in health and life sciences.'
Professor Jo Fothergill, Director of the University of Liverpool's Microbiome Innovation Centre, said: 'At the University we are already exploring academic and industrial capabilities in microbiome science.
"This latest funding and the launch of MaID, allows us to build momentum and further strengthen Liverpool's position as a thriving hub for life sciences innovation.
"We are also delighted to be enhancing our already longstanding relationship with CPI and look forward to making the city region a global leader in this field.'
Working with technical innovation centre CPI the hub will harness technology and expertise of University of Liverpool's Microbiome Innovation Centre.
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