Getting on nicely - collaboration boost for Manchester
Press release: 23 May 2011
The University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Sir Andrew Dillon, Chief Executive of NICE, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice Chancellor of The University of Manchester, and Professor Ian Jacobs, Director of MAHSC, (left to right in the image) signed the Memorandum on behalf of their respective organisations today (Monday).
The Memorandum outlines a number of potential areas for collaboration such as research into the uptake of NICE guidance in the clinical setting, the development and evaluation of health technologies, national and international health policy and practice, and teaching and training on evidence-based methodology.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC), share a commitment to improving the overall health of the population, through informing health policy and practice and in the development and evaluation of health technologies. MAHSC is dedicated to enhancing and improving translational medicine; the identification of unmet clinical need and the application of research and innovation to fulfilling that need and delivering improved patient care through its NHS partners. The University of Manchester is the lead research and teaching member for MAHSC.
Sir Andrew Dillon said it was a privilege for NICE to be associated with The University of Manchester, an institution with a distinguished history of research, teaching and innovation in the health sciences. He added: "Together, we will be able to explore and take advantage of a range of opportunities for supporting health and social care, in the UK and internationally, to improve quality of care and achieve better outcomes."
Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell said: "This is an extremely important partnership for the University and the Hospital Trusts, and for the future impact of health care."
Professor Ian Jacobs, commented: "MAHSC and The University of Manchester are delighted to have the opportunity to work with colleagues from NICE, a large majority of whom now work in Manchester, to support the development of health technologies and public health research as well as underpinning the importance of evidence based medicine to the 6,800 undergraduate and 2,300 postgraduate clinical and allied health students in our teaching programmes."
The Memorandum of Understanding is particularly focused on health technologies and public health, drawing on both NICE's expertise and a number of MAHSC programmes and University research groupings including: Institute of Health Sciences, School of Community Based Medicine, Manchester: Integrating Medicine and Innovative Technology (MIMIT), Manchester Mobile Health Innovation Centre, Northwest E-Health, Northwest Institute for Bio-health Informatics, Greater Manchester Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) and Nowgen.
Along with research initiatives and joint staff workshops, the collaboration will be facilitated by honorary appointments for NICE staff at the University including those recently approved for Professor Mike Kelly (NICE Public Health Excellence Centre Director) and Professor Carole Longson (NICE Health Technology Evaluation Centre Director).
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Notes to editors:
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is the independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance and standards on the promotion of good health and the prevention and treatment of ill health.
NICE produces guidance in three areas of health:
- public health – guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention of ill health for those working in the NHS, local authorities and the wider public and voluntary sector
- health technologies – guidance on the use of new and existing medicines, treatments, medical technologies (including devices and diagnostics) and procedures within the NHS
- clinical practice – guidance on the appropriate treatment and care of people with specific diseases and conditions within the NHS.
- NICE produces standards for patient care:
- quality standards – these reflect the very best in high quality patient care, to help healthcare practitioners and commissioners of care deliver excellent services
- Quality and Outcomes Framework – NICE develops the clinical and health improvement indicators in the QOF, the Department of Health scheme which rewards GPs for how well they care for patients.
- NICE provides advice and support on putting NICE guidance and standards into practice through its implementation programme, and it collates and accredits high quality health guidance, research and information to help health professionals deliver the best patient care through NHS Evidence.
MAHSC is the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, a partnership between The University of Manchester, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust, NHS Salford (Salford Primary Care Trust), Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust. MAHSC is one of only five Department of Health designated Academic Health Science Centres in England. MAHSC has the tripartite mission of research and innovation, education and training and healthcare.
The University of Manchester, a member of the Russell Group, is the most popular university in the UK. It has 22 academic schools and hundreds of specialist research groups undertaking pioneering multi-disciplinary teaching and research of worldwide significance. According to the results of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, The University of Manchester is now one of the country’s major research universities, rated third in the UK in terms of 'research power'. The University had an annual income of £788 million in 2009/10.
For further information contact:
Susan Osborne
Communications lead for MAHSC
Tel: +44 (0)161 291 4972
Mobile: +44 (0)7836 229208.
Or
Aeron Haworth
Media Relations
Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences
The University of Manchester
Tel: +44 (0)161 275 8383
Mob: +44 (0)7717 881563
Email: aeron.haworth@manchester.ac.uk
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