Alderley Park to lead antibiotics development following £4m boost

Multi-million pound investment at Alderley Park in Cheshire will see the development of a new antibiotics research hub.

The £4m centre, revealed by Chancellor George Osborne, will aim to be a UK leader for research into antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by providing a platform for scientists and clinicians to develop new therapies and testing methods.

The hub is expected to be the first in a series of new science partnerships and investments between the region’s private and public sectors.

The chairman of the partnership behind the plans, Dr Peter Jackson, said: “This is great news, not only for our scientists, technologists, clinicians and businesses but also for patients suffering from AMR infections across the world.

“Given the existing strength across the Northern Powerhouse in AMR, the centre will create a focused critical mass of activity, underpinned by world-class science, people, facilities and equipment, to address current capacity gaps and fast track new products to address this priority issue.”

The partnership is currently working with ministers to secure funding for the project and develop the proposals further with the region’s partners.

Dr Chris Doherty, the site director at Alderley Park, commented: “The value to society of a sustainable supply of effective antibiotics is enormous.

“This investment at Alderley Park will help to stimulate the development of new antibiotics and provides a crucial step towards ensuring that the world has effective medicines to combat infectious diseases.”

Several businesses at Alderley Park are already working on developing new antibiotics, as part of a worldwide drive to find more effective treatments.

The leader of Cheshire East Council, Cllr Michael Jones, called the development of antibiotics the “single most important research programme in the bio-science and medical world”.

He continued: “Cheshire East, through Alderley Park, will become a major player in this ground-breaking work.

“As a Council and Borough we are proud that this work is taking place here in Cheshire East and that our businesses and employees are playing such a valuable role in rolling back the frontiers in the fight against new diseases that threaten our children and families at home and abroad.”

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