Dr Axel Kaehne, Professor of Health Services Research, will lead evaluation of the BRITE project with project manager Dr Oliver Hamer on behalf of the University’s Evaluation and Policy Analysis (EPA) Unit.
The Biologics Regional Innovation and Technology Ecosystem (BRITE) project – a partnership led by Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) with regional universities, civic partners and industry – will translate innovative vaccine and drug research into new medicines to prevent disease, save lives and boost the regional economy.
The Edge Hill team’s expertise was important in BRITE’s successful bid for £5m from Research England announced today, and will play a vital role in the success of the project by assessing its outcomes and impact.
Professor Kaehne, EPA Director, said: “We are delighted to be the evaluation partner for the BRITE programme, a landmark initiative. Our team brings specialist expertise in evaluating complex health and innovation programmes and we look forward to generating insights that will inform delivery, enhance impact and support strategic decision-making across the partnership.
“This valuable opportunity also reflects Edge Hill’s commitment to supporting regional collaboration and impact through high-quality, policy-relevant evaluation.”
BRITE is a partnership between Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Edge Hill University, civic partners including the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, and leading industry players including AstraZeneca and Unilever.
The project, which seeks to establish the region as a global leader in biologics innovation and manufacturing, has been awarded £5m by Research England’s University Commercialisations Ecosystem fund to develop essential capacity to grow the regional and national biologics ecosystem, addressing challenges in their manufacture and commercial scale-up.
Biologics are complex medical products derived from living organisms, designed to prevent or treat a diverse range of infections and diseases, including emerging infectious diseases, cancer and antimicrobial resistance.
Edge Hill University’s Interim Vice-Chancellor Lynda Brady said: “BRITE is an excellent example of the critical importance of translating research into life-changing impact.
“We are proud to be collaborating with neighbouring universities, civic partners and industry leaders on this important project which will ultimately save lives, while boosting the local economy and strengthening the region’s reputation as an internationally-recognised centre for innovation in health and life sciences.”
BRITE will help identify and address barriers to effective commercialisation to address the shortage of local biomanufacturing facilities and build scale-up capability within the Liverpool City Region, ensuring that biologics assets developed here can be commercialised locally.
This collaboration will allow the Liverpool City Region to retain the economic benefit of the research generated by its universities, create high-quality jobs and ultimately advance health outcomes through innovative therapeutics.
Find out more about Edge Hill University’s new BSc (Hons) Global Infectious Disease, the only undergraduate degree delivered in partnership with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
May 9, 2025
