From innovation to impact: How the UK is advancing global healthcare

The UK, with its strong foundation in scientific, academic, and entrepreneurial expertise, is an important player in the global effort to transform healthcare. The potential for further impact aligns with the pledge made by Wes Streeting, the (relatively) new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who is committed to making Britain "a powerhouse for life sciences and medical technology"[1]. This vision sets out key drivers including collaboration between industry and the government, with research and innovation at the core of advancing healthcare and improving patient outcomes.

Our team here at Johnson & Johnson are blending our collective expertise and collaborative spirit to drive breakthroughs that can genuinely transform lives. Every day, I’m inspired by the vision, energy and dedication within our team, as we work towards creating a healthier future for all – and it’s this passion that fuels my writing today.

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The UK – a leader in life sciences innovation?

I have had the privilege of working closely with industry leaders and government ministers, including Members of Parliament, that engage in Health, Science, Innovation and Business - sharing insights on how our complex and regulated industry operates globally, and could support the UK healthcare and life sciences ecosystem locally.? My roles as Industry Innovation Lead on the UK Life Sciences Council and as a Board Member of the UK BioIndustry Association (BIA) give me a breadth of perspective and provide me with a unique opportunity to contribute to the future of healthcare with the aim to improve patient outcomes. These complementary roles and activities enable me to help find opportunities for alignment of the critical interfaces between government and industry.

The new government’s policy ambitions are encouraging, designed to support innovation and investment, while collaboratively seeking industry input on areas of policy that seek to advance population health and wellness. This commitment, combined with a focus on improvements in the financial environment has the potential to deliver extraordinary value to patients and to the UK economy. The life sciences sector already makes significant economic contributions to the UK. For example, over 140 genomic companies generate ￡2.4bn for the UK economy each year,[2] and in 2022, the UK exported over ￡25bn worth of medicinal and pharmaceutical products.[3] ?Similarly important, from the total venture capital invested in biotech companies across the European region, the UK has secured an impressive 41%[4]. This strong base forms the core for the sector's potential to drive further growth and job creation.

We are so privileged to have four of the world’s top ten life science universities located in the UK, within the London-Oxford-Cambridge "Golden Triangle," providing an unparalleled foundation for discovery. Alongside its academic strength and venture capital investment, the UK is also home to some of the world’s largest charity research funders, with Wellcome holding an investment portfolio of ￡37.8bn and deploying ￡2Bn per year in research activities, as well as Cancer Research UK, the second largest cancer charity in the world, headquartered in the UK.[5]

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J&J’s role in the UK’s life sciences ecosystem

Building on Johnson & Johnson's 100-year legacy in the UK, we're deeply embedded in the local ecosystem, connecting entrepreneurs, scientists, and emerging companies to our global network and expertise. This comprehensive offering comprises several components, including Johnson & Johnson’s external innovation partnering group, global incubator network, JLABS, and corporate venture group, JJDC, making us a partner of choice across biotech and academia for those seeking to bring their innovations to patients, according to early-stage healthcare innovators at Inpart’s 2023 Biotech Partnering survey. Some of our UK partner companies include Intelligent Omics, Mestag Therapeutics, Akrivia Health, and Nucleome. Additionally, we are proud to be part of globally leading public-private research consortia such as Our Future Health and UK Biobank.

While the global innovation landscape comes with its challenges and fierce competition from other ecosystems around the world, including the US and China, the UK is taking a world-leading position in several areas, including genomics and population cohorts. The Our Future Health programme is a prime example of the UK’s vision to coordinate ground-breaking research.? Seeking to recruit a diverse cohort of 5 million participants (with the first 1M already recruited in world record time), individuals can be invited to participate in R&D, with the goal of delivering superior understanding and management of disease (including understanding the risk of disease and prevention).?The sheer scale and diversity of this dataset has the potential to revolutionise healthcare globally, providing insights applicable to UK patients and those far beyond the UK's borders. I'm immensely proud of J&J’s role as a founding industry member of this initiative, and a participant myself.

This collaborative spirit also fuels our passion for future British talent via the J&J STEM Scholars program. Established in 2021, this 5-year programme supported 25 selected London-based high potential, underrepresented scholars for two years as they completed their A-levels, and a cohort of these students for a further three years, including a paid internship, during their time at university. For me, the STEM Scholars program represents more than just fostering talent, but it is about breaking down barriers and creating a more diverse and accessible future in STEM professions. By sharing opportunities and supporting these young minds, we're not only cultivating future innovators, but also building a more equitable and representative scientific community to deliver healthcare impact to all.

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The future of healthcare innovation in the UK

Looking ahead, I am excited about the future of healthcare innovation in the UK. However, there remain challenges, such as patient access to innovative treatment. Compared to innovation access and outcomes we see benefiting patients in peer countries, there is a critical need to focus on improving patient outcomes in many diseases and areas in the UK[6]. This needs to be addressed through fostering and valuing a pro-innovation culture, attracting further international collaboration, and strengthening the financial framework. We remain committed to deepening our connection in the UK ecosystem and expanding the scale and scope of our collaborations to make a difference in the lives of patients.

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Want to collaborate with us?

We invite innovators from across the spectrum to join us in our mission to accelerate innovations. Reach out to our team.

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References

[1] GOV.UK. Secretary of State makes economic growth a priority. July 2024. Available here.

[2] ABPI. Patients missing out on world leading UK genomic capabilities. November 2022. Available here.

[3] ABPI. ABPI Submission: Business and Trade Committee: Export-led growth. July 2023. Available here.

[4] BIA. UK biotech financing 2023. Available here.

[5] Wellcome. Investments. Available here.

[6] ABPI. Greater ambition is needed to improve patient access to innovative medicines. Available here.

CP-497559 | January 2025

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