Life Sciences Hub Wales continues to lead the transformation of health and social care through innovative, impactful solutions in response to unprecedented challenges.
The 2023-24 Annual Report shines a spotlight on how strategic collaboration and bespoke support are accelerating life-saving innovations, addressing critical system needs, improving care quality, and boosting economic growth across Wales.
In the past year, Life Sciences Hub Wales has played a pivotal role in advancing ground-breaking projects and programmes that are reshaping healthcare. New statistics underscore Wales’ rising reputation as a premier destination for health and social care innovation, attracting significant investment and driving tangible improvements in care delivery. By bringing cutting-edge technologies and approaches to the frontline, Life Sciences Hub Wales is tackling the nation’s most pressing challenges, optimising services, improving patient outcomes, and contributing to economic growth and job creation.
2023-24 Impact Highlights:
• 51,566 patients gained access to innovative healthcare
• £25.4m in funding proposals submitted
• 2,290 clinical visits reduced
• 147 innovation assessments conducted
• 58 jobs created
• £5.5m in investment secured
• £1.7m in funding obtained
• £3.1m Gross Value Added (GVA) delivered to the economy
• 1.5m of value generated for the health and care system.
The Annual Report highlights Life Sciences Hub Wales as a vital connector across health, social care, and industry, driving meaningful change through innovative projects like:
• QuicDNA Project: Recognised at the 2023 MediWales Innovation Awards and Advancing Healthcare Awards, this collaboration is revolutionising lung cancer diagnostics by leveraging liquid biopsy technology to shorten diagnostic pathways and treatment times.
• Community Pharmacy System Innovation Fund (CPSIF): Launched in April 2023, this initiative is modernising Wales’ pharmacy systems, with seven suppliers already securing funding to enhance prescription safety, efficiency, and reduce administrative burdens.
• Welsh Government’s Tackling Cancer Programme: Launched in 2023, this programme, supported by the Wales Cancer Industry Forum, is focused on improving cancer outcomes nationwide through community-based screenings and AI-powered diagnostic tools.
Jeremy Miles MS Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care said:
“Life Sciences Hub Wales continues to go from strength to strength by ensuring innovation is at the heart of health and social care working closely with industry and health and care professionals.
“In 2023/24, over 51,000 patients have benefitted by the work carried out by Life Sciences Hub Wales. Their ability to bring together partnership working has resulted in an improvement in the delivery of key initiatives, including coordinating the QuicDNA project for early cancer detection, managing delivery of the Community Pharmacy System Innovation Fund, and establishing the AI Commission for health and care. Together, these efforts demonstrate our commitment to improving patient outcomes while driving economic growth and job creation, positioning Wales as a leading destination for health and care innovation, ready to meet the unprecedented challenges ahead.”
Sian Morgan, Consultant Clinical Scientist & Laboratory Director, All Wales Medical Genomics Service, said:
“QuicDNA has been set up in Wales due to improvements in genomic technology and is now the only UK NHS laboratory that has implemented this particular test. The QuicDNA project demonstrates outstanding leadership through a truly collaborative project between the NHS, third sector and industry, and Life Sciences Hub Wales has been instrumental with its support and resources in the success that has been achieved.”
Cari-Anne Quinn, Chief Executive Officer, Life Sciences Hub Wales, said:
“Our 2023-24 Annual Report captures the incredible strides made by our partners across health, social care, and industry. Over 50,000 people benefitted from the health innovations we helped advance last year. With the healthcare system under immense pressure, our mission has never been more vital. We’re proud of the partnerships we’ve built and remain committed to making Wales a hub for health and care innovation.”
The report is available to download in full on Life Sciences Hub Wales website.
