Work is progressing well to renew Liverpool’s academic health science system.

The refresh of Liverpool Health Partners (LHP) is at an advanced stage, with its re-launch planned for 2023.

LHP’s 11 Partners have been involved in a series of workshops and expect to reach a conclusion shortly, that will result in a robust new organisation to support partners and stakeholders in their efforts to transform the health of the city and surrounding areas.

Our focus remains on addressing the health needs of our population and on delivering an excellent research and innovation ecosystem that works closely with Government and Industry partners to tackle our health challenges through innovative and evidence-based solutions.

Discussions about new roles and infrastructure to support this effort are at an advanced stage.

LHP SPARK (the Single Point of Access to Research and Knowledge) remains at the heart of the Liverpool research community, facilitating and delivering solutions for investigators and research teams. Its services are uninterrupted, including support for study set up, grants and sponsorship.

As part of our refresh, we are currently undertaking a review of SPARK with our CRN partners to ensure it continues to deliver to the highest standards for our Partners and Stakeholders.  This will conclude its work in the first quarter of 2023.

Three LHP programmes also continue their work to transform the health of the local population, hosted directly by NHS Partner Organisations: Starting Well (Alder Hey), Cardiovascular (Liverpool Heart and Chest) and Neuroscience and Mental Health (Mersey Care, The Walton Centre and Alder Hey).

Cancer research continues to be led by The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in partnership with the University of Liverpool; recognising the huge importance in improving health outcomes for the region and the successes of the Liverpool Clinical Research Facility and national collaboration as an Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre.

Louise Shepherd, Senior Responsible Officer for LHP, said: “We are pleased with the progress we have made so far on the future of LHP and the city’s research system.

“It is crucial that we, the Partners, use this time to consider all the options available to us to produce the very best partnership we can to help support the health research and innovation landscape in Liverpool and the City Region to deliver excellence for its citizens.”

LHP is made up of 11 Higher Education Institutes and NHS Foundation Trusts to benefit the health of the local population and beyond.

• Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Alder Hey Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust
• Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Liverpool Women’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
• The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
• The University of Liverpool
• Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
• Liverpool John Moores University
• Edgehill University