Liverpool set to be a global leader in Biotics as School of Tropical Medicine launches new £5 million project

A transformative new initiative led by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) is set to accelerate the commercialisation of life-saving medicines and vaccines, thanks to a nearly £5 million investment from Research England’s University Commercialisation Ecosystem Fund.

The project, titled BRITE (Biologics Research and Innovation Translation Ecosystem), is a cross-sector collaboration between academic institutions, civic partners, and industry leaders. BRITE aims to address the UK’s critical infrastructure and capability gaps in the development, manufacturing, and scale-up of biologics—complex medical products derived from living organisms, used to prevent and treat conditions ranging from infectious diseases and cancer to antimicrobial resistance.

Despite biologics comprising approximately 25% of the UK’s pharmaceutical market—with an annual value of £46 billion—commercial scale-up remains a significant challenge due to the sophistication of their production. BRITE will develop the capacity required to bridge the gap between world-leading research and real-world impact, ensuring discoveries are translated into clinical solutions and economic benefit.

Liverpool City Region is ideally placed to lead this charge. As the UK’s first Health and Life Sciences Investment Zone, it is home to over 300 life sciences businesses, generating £850 million in Gross Value Added (GVA), alongside world-renowned universities and clinical trial infrastructure.

Led by LSTM, BRITE brings together an impressive partnership including the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, and Edge Hill University. Key industry stakeholders such as AstraZeneca, Unilever, and Seqirus join civic and innovation partners including the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, iiCON, and LyvaLabs, forming a powerful consortium positioned to make the region a global hub for biologics innovation.

Professor Jonathan Ball, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at LSTM, commented:

“BRITE reflects our commitment to translating world-class research into meaningful impact — fostering high-value employment and ensuring that novel health solutions are developed and delivered locally. This initiative represents a strategic leap forward in our regional ambition to be a national leader in health and life sciences.”

The BRITE programme will enhance local manufacturing capability, improve the scale-up pipeline, and enable the commercialisation of high-potential biologic assets—ensuring the economic and health benefits remain within the Liverpool City Region.

Dr Becky Jones-Phillips, Director of Enterprise and Innovation at LSTM and BRITE programme lead, added:

“BRITE represents a unique opportunity to strengthen the Liverpool City Region’s biomanufacturing ecosystem and create a centre of excellence for the UK. We aim to harness the incredible research strength of our universities and the commercial insight of our life sciences sector to turn scientific breakthroughs into scalable, market-ready solutions.”

The programme aligns with key objectives in Research England’s wider University Commercialisation Ecosystem initiative, which supports the commercialisation of academic innovation through enhanced collaboration, investment attraction, and the creation of high-value jobs across the UK.

Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

“We must do more to unlock the vast economic potential of our world-leading research base. Initiatives like BRITE play a vital role in turning academic excellence into investable businesses that drive growth and innovation.”

Find more information on the LSTM website.

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