The creation of the new London Advanced Therapies ATTC was announced yesterday by the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGT Catapult), an independent innovation and technology organisation specialising in the advancement of the cell and gene therapy industry, and the Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre (ATTC) network, which works in close partnership with the NHS and industry to address the complex challenges of bringing advanced therapies to patients.
The London Advanced Therapies ATTC is made up of the NHS Trusts of its four partner organisations: Imperial College London, King's College London, Queen Mary University of London, and University College London (UCL). It will build on the reputation of these world-leading institutions, and of London as a whole, as a global hub for advanced therapies research and commercial clinical trials.
The focus of the centre will be working with the healthcare providers connected to its partner organisations to improve the infrastructure for advanced therapy clinical trials. This aims to increase the number and speed of trials as well as help more patients take part in these trials and access potentially life-changing cell and gene therapies.
The London centre joins the network of existing ATTCs across the UK: Innovate Manchester Advanced Therapy Centre Hub, Midlands-Wales ATTC, and the Northern Alliance ATTC. The ATTC network is coordinated by the CGT Catapult and receives funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Innovate UK.
Professor Sir Mark Caulfield, VP Health for Queen Mary, said: "I am delighted that Queen Mary hosts one of the four sites in the London Advanced Therapies ATTC. Together with our partners in London and across the UK, we can build on Queen Mary's existing strengths in cell and gene therapy and clinical trials, to help accelerate the delivery of life-changing treatments to patients."
