The University of Manchester has forged a new partnership with Alliance Medical to fast-track the development of the next generation of radiotracers.
Alliance Medical has signed a long-term lease agreement to take up residence at the Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre (WMIC), a University research facility based on the site of the Christie Hospital in Withington, a cancer care, research and education hub. WMIC is home to state-of-the-art radiochemistry facilities, including a cyclotron.
Through the partnership both parties will work collaboratively, combining the academic expertise at the University with Alliance Medical's extensive industry experience. Alliance Medical works with the NHS to offer PET-CT diagnostic procedures to over one hundred thousand cancer patients in England per year, while also working within the fields of paediatrics, urology and neurology, among others.
Alliance will invest around £10m in the facility to rebuild a state-of-the-art radiopharmacy, which will support future academic research cooperations.
Professor Allan Pacey, Deputy Vice President and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at The University of Manchester said: "We are delighted to have entered into this agreement with Alliance. This will open the doors for new and exciting research opportunities for our staff involved in finding new ways to detect and treat cancers and other medical conditions where radiotracers are important tools."
Professor Stavros Stivaros, Director of Imaging at The University of Manchester said: "This is an exciting collaborative long-term working agreement, which will revitalise the University's opportunities for state-of-the-art radiochemistry-based research. Research that spans from pre-clinical right through to diagnostics and therapies, across all age groups of patients."
As manufacturers of radiotracers, Alliance Medical has production facilities across Europe but its partnership with the University paves the way for a presence in Manchester, a renowned UK medical research hotspot. The University will in turn benefit from Alliance Medical's significant investment in research activity and the upgrade of its radiochemistry production facilities.
Howard Marsh, Chief Financial Officer for Alliance Medical Group, said: "We are delighted to be working with The University of Manchester to add an additional facility into our network that benefits patients in Manchester and the surrounding areas."
Axel Schmidt, Managing Director of Alliance Medical Radiopharmacy said: "This cooperation is another testament to the fast-growing field of, and interest in, radiopharmaceuticals. It will further expand our involvement in the development and commercialization of own- and third-party innovative tracers for oncology, neurology and cardiology."
The University will also utilise local access to commercial radiotracers for preclinical and clinical PET-MR imaging research. With Alliance Medical beginning its operations on the site in Autumn 2025, it is hoped production of radiotracers will begin within two years, with these tracers to be delivered to hospitals to improve patient care and diagnostic offerings.
