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A major collaboration between NICE and Greater Manchester has been secured for a further three years, until June 2021.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been agreed between NICE, Health Innovation Manchester and the University of Manchester which sets out a shared commitment to improving the overall health of the population through research and informing health policy and practice, as well as through the development and evaluation of health technologies. Collaboration between the three parties will also focus on teaching, training and education.

A key project which will be undertaken through the partnership is ‘DataLab’. Building on Greater Manchester’s extensive expertise and numerous digital and data assets, DataLab will explore how routinely collected information, such as anonymised data derived from patient records, may be used to evaluate the effectiveness of medicines, new technologies and interventions in the development of NICE guidance.

Sir Andrew Dillon, chief executive of NICE, said: “NICE greatly values the opportunities for further broad ranging collaboration with Greater Manchester colleagues. Building on the strong progress already made in teaching and educational activities, we welcome increased research collaboration across many areas of mutual interest, including the Data Lab project.”  

The news follows the recent announcement that Greater Manchester will receive £7.5m investment from NHS England to become a Local Health and Care Record Exemplar (LHCRE) – one of only three locations in the country selected to establish an integrated health and care record across a large population. It means that health and social care IT systems across all 10 boroughs will be connected so they can share information more easily and allow professionals to make better decisions based on the most up to date information.

Ben Bridgewater, Chief Executive of Health Innovation Manchester, said: “Being able to use data for research purposes is vital so that we can provide modern day healthcare that radically improves the health and wellbeing of our citizens.  Having a shared care record through the LHCRE programme will greatly enhance our ability to conduct world-leading research here in Greater Manchester, providing a richer and more accurate data pool.

“DataLab will be a key part of Greater Manchester’s digital innovation offer, where we will use data, insights and engagement to transform services and provide better care to our citizens.”

Professor Peter Clayton, Interim Vice-President of the University of Manchester and Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health,  commented: “Agreeing the memorandum of understanding for a further three years greatly enhances Greater Manchester’s offer for industry and other partners wishing to conduct world leading research and deliver real population health improvements.  It demonstrates our shared commitment to being at the leading edge of digital innovation.”

For further information contact Research@nice.org.uk