The NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre is a collaboration between the University of Manchester and six leading local NHS organisations, that brings together academics and clinicians to translate scientific breakthroughs into potential new treatments, diagnostics and medical technologies for the benefit of patients, the public, and the health and care system. In 2022, the Manchester BRC was awarded more than £60 million to deliver high-quality, early translational and experimental research across a number of specialist areas.
We are delighted that one of the specialist research themes funded as part of this new Manchester BRC is Rare Conditions. Led by Professors Bill Newman and Sid Banka, the Manchester BRC Rare Conditions Theme aims to employ a range of multi-disciplinary experimental approaches to drive innovation in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of rare conditions across three major Programmes:
Programme 1. Improved diagnosis, understanding, and prevention: This programme includes novel gene discovery projects, mechanistic studies to understand the causes of rare conditions and investigations into preconception screening to prevent severe rare conditions.
Programme 2. Understanding the Impacts and Outcomes: This programme aims to address various challenges around living with RCs including the psychological impacts on patients and families and the lack of disease -relevant outcome measures which are under researched and much needed to appropriately evaluate potential treatments during trials.
Programme 3. Novel Treatments: Therapies do not exist for most rare conditions. This programme looks to utilise different approaches to advance potential therapies, including the repurposing of drugs and developing novel gene therapies.
