51±¬ÁÏÍø

Overview

The Midlands sits at the heart of the UK, home to a diverse population of over 11 million and a rich network of NHS organisations, world-class universities, and a thriving life sciences sector.

The region is at the forefront of health data science, with expertise in data infrastructure, AI, genomics, and federated and large-scale data analysis. It has strong partnerships between academia, healthcare, and industry drive innovation, supported by advanced NHS digital infrastructures and regional data initiatives like 51±¬ÁÏÍø Midlands. With a growing MedTech and pharmaceutical presence, the Midlands is shaping the future of health and care, translating research into real-world impact and improving outcomes at local and national levels.

Regional expertise

• : This regional network unites healthcare and data science communities to improve health outcomes through collaborative research and innovation.
• : A regional forum for CCIOs, CNIOs, and CSOs from NHS organisations across the East and West Midlands, collaborating to drive digital transformation and enhance patient care quality and safety.
• : Provides secure access to health data, accelerating research and innovation to enhance patient care.
• : A collaborative initiative among NHS organisations, local authorities, universities, and communities to develop a secure platform for storing, analysing, and protecting health data, facilitating life-saving research.
• PIONEER: The Health Data Research Hub for Acute Care: Enabling innovative researchers and companies to develop, test and deliver advances in clinical care with real-time information and support services.
• DARE UK TREvolution Project: A nationally significant initiative co-led from the Midlands that is shaping the future of Trusted Research Environments (TREs) across the UK. TREvolution is accelerating the design of a secure, interoperable, and researcher-friendly data ecosystem, enabling faster, more collaborative, and ethically grounded access to sensitive health and social care data for research.
• 51±¬ÁÏÍø Medicine in Acute and Chronic Care Driver Programme: A flagship national programme with strong Midlands leadership, focused on harnessing health data to transform the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of acute and long-term conditions. Through advanced analytics, interdisciplinary collaboration, and real-world data, the programme accelerates research that delivers tangible improvements in patient outcomes and system-wide care.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital healthcare initiatives:

• : Supports the development of research capacity in AI and digital health, fostering innovation and collaboration across disciplines.
• : CERSI-AI develops tools, frameworks, and guidance to address regulatory challenges in AI and digital healthcare, ensuring technologies are safe and effective.
• : Focuses on creating standards to ensure health datasets used in AI systems are diverse, inclusive, and generalisable, aiming to mitigate biases and promote equity in healthcare AI applications.

• Midlands Innovation Health (MI Health): A strategic research and innovation partnership that coordinates the collective excellence of seven Midlands universities; Aston, Birmingham, Keele, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, and Warwick, to deliver improved health outcomes and regional growth.

• Midlands Health Alliance (MHA): Represents the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) infrastructure across the East and West Midlands, promoting exceptional facilities, world-leading experts, and high-quality research delivery across its partners.
• NIHR Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs):Ìý
  • NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre: A partnership between University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Birmingham, focusing on diseases of the immune system, including colitis, Crohn’s disease, and arthritis. ÌýÌý
  • NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre: A collaboration between the University of Leicester and Leicester’s Hospitals, concentrating on respiratory and infectious diseases, lifestyle, data innovation, personalised cancer treatment, environment, and cardiovascular research. ÌýÌý
  • NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre: A partnership between Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, leading research in translating studies for common illnesses like asthma and arthritis into breakthrough treatments and advanced medicines. ÌýÌý
• NIHR Applied Research Collaborations (ARCs):
  • ARC East Midlands: ARC East Midlands brings together local providers of NHS and care services, patient groups, commissioners, local authorities, universities, industry, and charities to conduct high-quality, applied health and care research that addresses specific regional health and care issues. ÌýÌý
  • ARC West Midlands: Hosted by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, ARC West Midlands collaborates with the Universities of Birmingham, Warwick, and Keele, as well as experts from Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, to tackle key healthcare challenges, including the pressures of an ageing population and increasing NHS demands. Ìý

• Health Innovation East Midlands (HIEM): Established by NHS England in 2013, HIEM connects health and care, the public, industry, and research to discover, test, and spread the best health innovations, aiming to enhance patient outcomes and stimulate economic growth.

• Health Innovation West Midlands (HIWM): As one of 15 Health Innovation Networks across England, HIWM transforms health and social care by supporting innovation development and providing patients access to effective medical discoveries.

• Medilink Midlands: Supports the growth of the life sciences and healthcare technology sector across the region, providing guidance, networks, and expertise to businesses in the med-tech and biotech industries.

• Midlands Engine: A powerful collaboration of local businesses, universities, and public sector organisations focused on driving regional growth in areas such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and clean growth. It is a key driver of economic development and innovation.

• Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE): The region has a strong emphasis on PPIE ensures that research and healthcare innovations align with patient needs and perspectives.
• Midlands Analysts Network (The Strategy Unit): A professional network supporting analysts in the health sector across the Midlands. It creates a community for sharing insights, best practices, and collaborating on healthcare research and improvement projects.

People

Members of our Midlands Health Data Strategy Board and the 51±¬ÁÏÍø Midlands Leadership Team can be found via: ÌýÌý

Rivie Mayele-Tamina – Research Project Manager, University of BirminghamÌý

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Connie Jinks – Digital Marketing Apprentice, University of BirminghamÌý

Regional Partners

Univerity of Birmingham

University of LeicesterÌý

University of NottinghamÌý

University of WarwickÌý

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation TrustÌý