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Government science rep visits North East

The Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir David King, visited the North East yesterday to mark the official launch of a number of innovative facilities developed and implemented by the region’s science community. Yesterday’s event saw scientists, academics and key industry figures from across the North East unite in the promotion and development of the region’s science sector. These include One NorthEast, Cels, Durham University, Newcastle Science City, Newcastle University and the NE England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI).

Sir David King said: “Today’s launch is not just critical to the wealth of our economy but also the future health of ours and other nations. “In the UK, science is and will continue to be as important to our economic future as stability. We have to be a magnet for scientific endeavour, attracting the best people, turning knowledge into commercial enterprise, forming collaborations that keep us right at the new frontiers of science. “The North East science community is now rapidly becoming a centre of excellence for biological sciences, we now need to reach out to the younger generation so that in the future, centres like Newcastle will set the standard for young people across the UK.”

The event also marks the formal opening of a new facility based at the International Centre for Life, designed and built to produce stem cells to clinical Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standard. GMP is the set of guidelines that govern the pharmaceutical and bio-processing industries. The new facility is designed to allow academics and clinicians to produce material of sufficient quality to be used to treat patients.

Chris Pywell, Head of Strategic Economic Change at One NorthEast said: “The region is making great strides in its development of a science and innovation based economy. Life Sciences are a major element of this growth. These facilities are key aspects of the development of internationally leading capability.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .