The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have hosted an event for the new Centres of Excellent in Regulatory Science and Innovation (CERSIs) to demonstrate how their projects will help revolutionise healthcare.

Held in Westminster, London, the event brought together the MHRA and its funding partners for the first time — that is, Innovate UK, the Office for Life Sciences, and the Medical Research Council (MRC) — as well as projects sponsors and key representatives from the government, industry and academia. Together, the guests heard from CERSI leads about the development of their products.

Discussions focused on a variety of topics, such as AI and MedTech, pharmacogenomics and diagnostics, and modernising manufacture. Talks on in silicon trials explored new approaches to streamline development while also maintaining safety, and discussions on cell and gene therapies developed laboratory approaches to shared challenges in advanced therapies.

The session also focused on cross-cutting issues, covering data sharing, skills and expertise, and patient and public involvement.

As a result of CERSI, patients will be able to benefit from innovation and new treatments sooner.

June Raine, MHRA chief executive said: “At our CERSIs event this week, the depth of expertise was impressive and there was a real excitement about the progress being made. The discussions highlighted a strong commitment to improving access to innovation for patients, shared with our partners Innovate UK, Office for Life Sciences and the MRC. Through the CERSIs, we have a major opportunity to drive advances in regulatory science in the UK —  now is the time to turn that potential into action.”