Gene therapy in the UK: new network of research centers established

A gene therapy center will be established in the UK, which will join a network of gene therapy centers across the UK aiming to provide treatment options for patients.  

A gene therapy center is due to be opened in Sheffield (England, UK), which will be named The Gene Therapy Innovation & Manufacturing Centre (GTIMC) and is affiliated with The University of Sheffield. The center will conduct gene therapy research with the aim of discovering treatment options for patients.  

The GTIMC has been awarded £1.5 million grant funding by the South Yorkshire Renewal Fund. This funding will support the construction of the space and equipment, which will cost £14.2 million in total. 

Along with funding from the South Yorkshire Regeneration Fund, the GTIMC has received LifeArc funding of £6.4 million, £3.1 million from the University of Sheffield and a £3 million donation from The Law Charitable Foundation.  

The mayor of South Yorkshire, Dan Jarvis, stated that “this is fantastic news for South Yorkshire and the North of England. It puts Sheffield right at the heart of world class research and innovation into Gene Therapy that will present a real opportunity for regional economic growth within the supply chain and job creation in South Yorkshire.” 

President of The University of Sheffield, Koen Lamberts, added that “at the University of Sheffield we focus our research on finding real-world solutions to some of the biggest global challenges. The Gene Therapy Innovation and Manufacturing Centre will unlock development pathways for new treatments for people affected by devastating genetic disorders, many of which have no cure.” 

The GTIMC is an addition to the ongoing program of regional investment and regeneration and will be located on The University of Sheffield’s Innovation District, close to existing translational research facilities.  

The center will incorporate good manufacturing practice facilities, which will reinforce gene therapy projects beginning to appear at universities across the UK. There are three national hubs at the University of Sheffield, King’s College London and NHS Blood and Transplant Bristol (both England, UK). These hubs will work in coordination with each other, sharing technical skills and resources which will have the potential to innovate gene therapy research.  

Source: www.insidermedia.com/news/yorkshire/sheffield-selected-for-new-gene-therapy-centre