Regenerative Medicine Expert Group publishes report with action plan for UK implementation

The Regenerative Medicine Expert Group has published its report ‘Building on our own potential: a UK pathway for regenerative medicine’ as the culmination of work with other stakeholders to develop a strategy for regenerative medicines in the UK.

The report provides an update on work undertaken to support regenerative medicine and proposes a strategy and action plan to make the National Health Service ready to deliver regenerative medicines. It intends to make the UK a world-leading location in the field, for the benefit of patients and the economy. The proposals cover issues including clinical trials, licensing, regulation and traceability, the evaluation and NHS commissioning of regenerative medicines, and how to embed supporting systems, data considerations and training in the healthcare service.

Steve Bates, chief executive of the BioIndustry Association and a member of the Regenerative Medicines Expert Group panel, said: “The RMEG report addresses important issues that directly affect the UK’s attractiveness as a location to develop regenerative medicines – one of the Chancellor’s eight great technologies – and it rightly recognizes that effective uptake in the NHS is absolutely critical for this. However, the BIA would like to have seen RMEG take a firm stand to also call for a dedicated fund that would truly give companies confidence in the UK market and enable the speedy uptake of regenerative medicines in the NHS.”