Cambridge confirmed as global leader in health science

Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced that Cambridge University Health Partners was amongst the five winners of the race to be designated an Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC). These centres, chosen from amongst the leading university medical centres in the country, have been identified as the groups most likely to be able to compete with equivalent organisations in America, Europe and the rest of the world in areas of biomedical excellence.

Last month the University of Cambridge made a joint proposal to the Department of Health, along with its principal NHS partners - Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - to be designated as an AHSC.

The four organisations, which have many existing links, recently agreed to come together into a more formal alliance and to create an entity to be known as Cambridge University Health Partners. The new partnership will bring the member organisations closer together in pursuit of outstanding excellence in clinical care, clinical education and health research so as to improve services to patients and population health. It will also work to accelerate innovation and generate wider economic and social benefits in the Greater Cambridge area as well as nationally.

Professor Alison Richard, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, said: "This designation brings together, even more closely, partners with strengths in education, research and patient care, to form a globally-competitive alliance. The University is proud to work with such esteemed organisations, and I am pleased we have received this recognition."

The group will be managed by a steering group that includes representatives of all four organisations under the interim chairmanship of Professor Patrick Sissons, the Head of the School of Clinical Medicine and Regius Professor of Physic, who will also be Director of the AHSC.

Professor Sissons said: "I am delighted that we have been judged worthy of this designation by a very distinguished panel of our international peers and by the Department of Health. This designation is an important recognition of the excellence of all four of our organisations and the great value we can bring collectively to research, education and patient care."

Sir Neil McKay, Chief Executive of NHS East of England, said: "The four organisations involved in this application have all made substantial contributions to keeping the east of England at the forefront of clinical practice. Having an Academic Health Science Centre in our region promises to accelerate the delivery of world-class biomedical innovation. We have supported this initiative strongly and will continue to provide support as it moves into the next phase, and we will help ensure the benefits are spread to patients across the region. Improving services for our patients is at the forefront of our regional vision Towards the best, together and will help to deliver our aim for health services in the east to be the best in the country."