and issue joint report on using
biotech to deliver better healthcare.
They propose a new NHS Data Trust, a biotech laboratory,
reforms to venture capital and listing regimes.
They also propose a new biosecurity taskforce.
and have co-authored a new
report, A New National Purpose:
Leading the Biotech Revolution, urging the Government to
seize the opportunities of the tech revolution to deliver better
healthcare through a fresh approach to patient data, a new lab to
spur innovation, and reforms to unlock private capital.
In a wide-ranging report, the former Labour Prime Minister and
Conservative Leader set out how new breakthroughs in biotech
promise an era of more effective healthcare, through personalised
treatments of diseases and drug discoveries, while boosting
economic growth.
Britain is often seen as a leader in biotechnology. Recently, UK
regulators became the first in the world to approve gene editing
for treating sickle cell disease, while Cambridge scientists have
created new microbes with the potential to develop new kinds of
plastic.
But in their third joint paper, Blair and Hague warn that while
the UK benefits from many early advantages in the sector, notably
initiatives like the UK Biobank and Genomics England, the country
risks being left behind on biotech by surging global competition.
They propose the creation of a new NHS Data Trust to allow
anonymised health data to be shared with biotech researchers and
companies, helping to turbocharge new medical breakthroughs while
preserving patient privacy.
The trust would be owned and controlled by the NHS, in
cooperation with trusted external partners, with a transparent
governance model to keep patient data safe and secure and ensure
the trust’s operations align with public health objectives.
The report also calls for a new UK Laboratory of Biodesign,
staffed with first-rate international biotech researchers, to
develop new biotechnologies, and reforms to the UK’s venture
capital and listing regimes to give UK biotech companies the
capital to start up and scale up.
Alongside their recommendations for unlocking the potential of
biotech, Blair and Hague also warn that advances in biotech can
be used for harm as well as benefit, in particular advances in
genetic engineering and new AI tools for biology.
To deal with emerging risks, they call for a new taskforce to
focus on preventing the next pandemic, along with strong
regulation to prevent the misuse of DNA printing machines and
upgrading of lab safety measures to prevent the escape of
dangerous viruses.
In the foreword they say: “We both believe that whether Britain
can establish a leading position in science and innovation will
be the single most important determinant of our future
prosperity, and therefore of the jobs, living standards and
security of British people.”
, Executive Chairman of TBI and
former Prime Minister said:
“The future of Britain is at an inflection point – we need to use
the science and technology revolution to reimagine how government
works, how it innovates, operates and delivers better and more
personalised public services and generates economic growth.
We have pioneering institutions and scientists, but we need to
become more competitive if we are to lead the world in biotech
and not be left behind. This paper shows how we can do that.”
, Former Foreign Secretary and
Conservative Party Leader, said:
“Accelerated by new breakthroughs, AI and the availability of
data, biotech is offering a future with new cures and treatments
for many diseases. Just as the UK is positioning itself to
maximise the benefits and minimise the risks of artificial
intelligence, we must redouble our efforts to lead in synthetic
biology. The age of biotech has begun - we haven’t a moment to
lose in making the most of it”.
Benedict Macon-Cooney, Chief Policy Strategist at the
Institute, said:
“To thrive in the 21st Century, the UK needs to be faster and
more strategic in mastering and harnessing the tech revolution. A
failure to do so will fundamentally impact our economic
competitiveness. This starts with reimagining the state. But as
our latest New National Purpose report sets out, Britain can
shape the wave of new biotechnologies, and deliver the
better-quality healthcare and opportunities for growth that our
country needs.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
- This press release was sent on behalf of the Institute for Global Change
and the Office of .
- The full report - “A New National Purpose: Leading the
Biotech Revolution” is available here
- The first two reports are: “A New National Purpose:
Innovation Can Power the Future of Britain” (February 2023); and
“A New National Purpose:
AI Promises a World-Leading Future of Britain” (June 2023).
