Midlands and Wales Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre

The Midlands and Wales Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre (MW-ATTC) consists of a large regional network. The centre includes a wide range of specialists in advanced therapies.

Through funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and in close collaboration with NIHR infrastructure and its counterparts in the devolved administrations, the ATTC network aims to build upon its existing work, expand its reach, and integrate its initiatives into standard practice. The primary focus will be on enhancing the readiness of advanced therapy clinical trials, with the goal of expanding capacity and capability across a broader network to bring more innovative therapies to patients and strengthen the UK’s appeal to industry.

The aim of the MW-ATTC has been to enable UK advanced therapy companies to reach the clinical market, whilst simultaneously building clinical capacity and capability regionally to deliver these breakthrough therapies to patients. Initiatives have included:

  • The creation of robust processes to maintain chain of identity and custody from procurement to administration for exemplar ATMPs, including comprehensive monitoring and data management.
  • Testing and integration of market-leading solutions for ATMP transport and tracking using state-of-the-art IT systems.
  • Establishment of an expert network across a number of hospitals with the requisite skill needed to receive and administer ATMPs.
  • The creation of  more efficient pathways and increased access to clinical trials by close working with logistics and manufacturing partners.

Location

The MW-ATTC covers the Midlands and Wales, with clinical sites based in Birmingham, Cardiff, Leicester, Nottingham, Swansea, Bristol and Cambridge

Leadership team

Dr Paul Ferguson
Director - MW-ATTC
Rachel Savery
Rachel Savery
Deputy Director - MW-ATTC
John Lewis
John Lewis
Programme Manager - MW-ATTC

John Lewis is a Portfolio Project Manager who started working with the Advance Therapies Wales Programme in February 2023. With extensive experience in managing projects and teams within the fast-paced industrial sector, particularly in achieving net-zero targets and industrial decarbonization, John brings a wealth of knowledge to his role. He has successfully overseen the completion of multi-million pound projects and managed dynamic collaborations between academia and industry. Now, John is excited to apply his expertise to healthcare projects, focusing on donor and patient safety and experience. Outside of work, John is a devoted family man and a passionate musician who has played the cornet/trumpet in a brass band since the age of 7. His dedication to music has led him to compete against top brass bands worldwide and be part of the winning performance at the National Championships of Great Britain in 2013.

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