The commercial enterprise team at Newcastle Hospitals has celebrated its three-year milestone.
The team came together in 2020 at the height of the pandemic and has worked to grow a diverse portfolio covering projects in diagnostics, innovation, research, education, training and pharmacy.
With a variety of expertise, skills and knowledge gained from NHS and commercial backgrounds, the team offers a wide range of expertise and guidance for partners across the North East and nationally.
Two of the biggest projects so far have been to support two of the trust’s commercial labs – Novopath and the North East Innovation Lab – in commercialising their diagnostic services, helping them to grow, achieve and maintain financial sustainability, and explore new markets. Both are based in the Biosphere, Newcastle Helix.
Wayne Elliott, associate director for commercial enterprise at Newcastle Hospitals, said: “We work closely with the labs and the wider life science community to support all aspects of the development of diagnostics to help transform healthcare.
“Our expertise and guidance include commercial oversight of the labs’ work, business planning, service proposition, financial modelling, and strategic planning. We work closely with the scientists in the team to help to inform their ‘offer’ and support them to grow in new markets.
“We also work with partners, such as Invest Newcastle to help build interest and investment in the city’s life sciences sector.”
Melanie Shield, former commercial manager with the innovation lab, is now senior commercial manager with responsibility for supporting commercial activity at the labs.
The team also works closely with the NIHR Newcastle In Vitro Diagnostics Collaborative (MIC), which brings together Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle University to support evidence generation for test developers.
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