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Three Academic Health Science Centres to be based in London

The health secretary Alan Johnson today announced that three of the first five Academic Health Science Centres (AHSCs) in the country will be based in London.

The centres, partnerships between world-class academic medical research schools and leading NHS organisations, have been recognised as having the potential to compete globally with established centres such as those in the US, Canada, Singapore, Sweden and the Netherlands.

The Universities and NHS organisations will work together to deliver world class research, education and patient care for the benefit of Londoners, the public nationally and around the world.

Imperial College, King's Health Partners and UCL Partners were chosen by a panel of internationally renowned clinicians and researchers.

Welcoming the go-ahead for three AHSCs in London, Ruth Carnall Chief Executive of NHS London, the capital's Strategic Health Authority, said:

"Academic Health Science Centres are a major part of Lord Darzi's original vision for better health care in London and they are now being rolled out nationally. Today's announcement means London will have a strong network of three AHSCs, bringing together world-leading research, teaching and patient care. The go-ahead for these centres means London, and Londoners, will continue to benefit from having cutting-edge medical advances and leadership at the heart of their NHS."

Sir Richard Sykes, Chair of NHS London and former Rector at Imperial College said:

"To meet the challenges ahead, it is vital that the NHS is able to innovate and lead, to take new discoveries and drive their use to improve health care across the UK and abroad. During my time at Imperial College I was fully committed to driving AHSCs forward in order to bring together the best that academics, clinicians and researchers have to offer. I am delighted that the three London AHSC proposals have been successful and the vision will now become a reality."

Notes to Editors

Panel membership was as follows:
Professor Sir Ian Kennedy Chairman, Healthcare Commission, London
Professor Hans Büller President, Erasmus Medical Centre, Netherlands
Prof Paul Shekelle Director, Southern California Evidence-Based Practice Center, RAND Corporation; Associate Professor of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
Dr Victor Dzau Chancellor for Health Affairs, Duke Medical Centre, USA
Prof Jan Carlstedt-Duke Professor in Molecular Endocrinology, Karolinska Institute, Sweden
Mr Jeff Lozon President & CEO, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Canada
Prof Ed Holmes Distinguished Professor, UC San Diego; Vice Chancellor/Dean Emeritus of Health Sciences, UC San Diego; Chairman, National Medical Research Council, Singapore; Deputy Chairman, Biomedical Research Council, Singapore
Prof Tony MBewu President, Medical Research Council of South Africa
Dr Bob Goldstein Chief Scientific Officer, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, New York, USA
Prof Peter Brooks Executive Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia

Imperial College consists of a partnership between Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Imperial College London.

King's Health Partners consists of a partnership between South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Kings College London.

UCL Partners consists of a partnership between University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust and University College London.

-Ends-

For more information contact:

Ray Allger NHS London 020 7932 3911
Email ray.allger@london.nhs.uk
Out of hours call 08700 555 500 and ask for pager number lon01