Blogs

New legislation was laid in Parliament last Thursday to modernise the regulation of clinical trials in the UK.

It has been hugely exciting to partner with the BIA and its members as their charity of the year throughout 2024. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the BIA and all its member organisations for their incredible support, enthusiasm, and generosity.

As 2024 comes to a close, we’re proud to reflect on a year of championing the life sciences sector, from driving impactful policy changes to fostering connections across the UK and beyond. Dive into our key achievements, events, and milestones that shaped the year and set the stage for an exciting 2025.

As we engage as an Association in the development of the life science sector plan, the 10 year NHS plan and the UK’s industrial strategy this winter, this week I’ve been reflecting on what recent NHS announcements on adoption of innovation tell us.

Innovating manufacturing processes is key to revolutionising access to advanced cell and gene therapies - this blog explores how Tolemy Bio's co-founders, Caelan and Alex, are leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI, biochemical modelling, and omics data to overcome complex challenges and drive global scalability.

When comparing the UK’s RNA manufacturing capability now, to that of before COVID-19, it is obvious that great advancements have been made. Abby Clark, Senior Manufacturing Programme Executive at the BIA, reflects on the past (nearly) five years and highlights recent work in the area.  

With a new Labour Government in place, this year’s event set the stage for impactful collaboration with MPs and policymakers. Read on to learn how we’re keeping life sciences at the top of the agenda.

The Innovation Ecosystem Programme, an 18-month-long NHS England project, which the BIA have been involved in throughout, describes how the UK can lead the way globally in health gains and life sciences powered growth. Its final report was published last week.

In this blog, John Stewart, Vice President of KojoX Strategy and Rasmus Pedersen, Associate Director of Process Technology for FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, talk about FUJIFILM's flagship single-use cell culture facility in Billingham, UK.

In this guest blog, Luis Lacerda and Suzanne Farid from UCL explore the transformative potential of engineering biology and its critical role in addressing sustainability challenges in medicines manufacturing.

The North West of England is recognised as one of the cornerstones of the UK’s life sciences  sector. This enduring strength positions the North West as a hub of national significance for life sciences manufacturing.

London was the epicentre of the life science industry during London Life Sciences Week last week. The 2024 edition marked a significant step forward in both the quality and quantity of events and interactions.

Pension reform unlocks cash for UK life sciences, London Life Sciences Week and #bioProcessUK are here.

New data shows investing in life sciences produces great returns, London Life Sciences Week and #bioProcessUK are nearly here.

The Chancellor’s Autumn Budget placed life sciences at the forefront of the UK’s growth agenda, providing key support for R&D tax relief, medicines manufacturing, and sector-specific financing through the British Business Bank.

In his latest blog, Dr Martin Turner, BIA’s Associate Director of Policy, Public Affairs & Investor Relations, explores the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget 2024, which prioritises life sciences as a key growth driver within the UK economy. Martin provides an insightful breakdown of the measures, from R&D tax relief to funding boosts in manufacturing and biotech. Read on to discover the budget highlights and what they mean for life sciences in the UK.

We are excited to welcome the newly elected members of the BIA Board of Directors, who will bring fresh insights and expertise to help drive our mission forward. Nick Gardiner shares his perspective on the importance of these appointments and the unique value each new Director brings to the BIA.

In response to the global rise in demand for innovative therapies, the development and production of novel biopharmaceuticals continue to expand.

The first Budget of the new government will be presented this Wednesday. It’s an important moment, not just for life sciences but for the broader UK economy. Read this blog for an update on the Life Sciences Council, and the launch of our latest Influencing and shaping our sector report.

Attending the BIA’s TechBio UK conference this year offered an incredible opportunity to witness the ingenuity and innovation driving the future of life sciences.