Life Sciences Organisation sets out the UK stall

The Life Sciences Organisation (LSO) is a perhaps little known mix of civil servants and private sector specialists that forms a healthcare, life sciences and bioeconomy cluster in the UK Department of Trade and Industry.

From this position, as well as assisting the UK government to develop policies supporting life science businesses, LSO's primary purpose is to help UK life sciences companies to do business overseas and support foreign life sciences companies to invest in the UK.

Further to this remit, this month LSO has issued an extensive series of guidance notes providing an overview of the advantages of investment in the UK's life sciences sector, in particular in the following areas:

• Cell and gene therapy: develop new treatments in the UK
• Antimicrobial resistance: develop solutions in the UK
• Medical technology: partner with the UK to develop new products
• Cardiovascular disease: develop treatments and technologies in the UK
• Cancer: develop treatments and diagnostic technologies in the UK
• Infectious diseases: develop diagnostics in the UK

Each of these notes explains the financial investment in research and other projects that the government is committing to these areas of technology, as well as the key initiatives and infrastructure that are in place or being developed.

LSO is also involved in managing Brexit and the post Brexit domestic policy such as the life sciences Industrial Strategy and Sector Deal. In setting out its stall for the UK life sciences sector, is also clear that LSO regards the availability of high quality research scientists and world-leading research centres as key assets of the UK life sciences offering beyond Brexit.

LSO is inviting those interested in commercial opportunities in the UK's life sciences sector to contact it at lifescience@trade.gov.uk.