LIVERPOOL City Region is set to become a global powerhouse in a new front to tackle deadly diseases and improve wellbeing.

More than £1m of Life Sciences Innovation Zone funding will support the creation of a Microbiome and Infectious Disease Innovation Hub (MaID) to harness the University of Liverpool’s expertise in the rapidly expanding field.

Microbiomes are communities of microorganisms that live throughout the human body - playing a crucial role in digestion, metabolism, mucus production and lubrication, while serving as a first line of defence against harmful organisms.

As the understanding of microbiomes increases, their healthcare potential continues to grow - offering new approaches for tackling cancer, mental health disorders, inflammatory bowel disease and the global threat of antimicrobial resistance that unchecked could have devastating consequences by 2050.

The UK is currently the world’s third-largest microbiome researcher but faces challenges turning discovery into real-world impact within an expanding global market that is soon expected to be worth billions of pounds.

Led by the University of Liverpool and delivered in partnership with technology innovation centre CPI, MaID aims to establish the City region as the best place for microbiome innovation by providing vital support to businesses operating in the field.

Mayor Steve Rotheram said:- “This is exactly the kind of project our Innovation Zone was designed to support – bold, world-leading science that creates jobs, attracts investment, and tackles some of the greatest challenges facing global health. The Liverpool City Region has the talent, expertise and ambition to lead the way in microbiome innovation, and the MaID hub is a fantastic example of how we’re turning that potential into progress. By backing cutting-edge research and helping businesses scale, we’re putting our region firmly on the map as a global force in health and life sciences.”

The University of Liverpool and CPI have signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to progress the project which will provide varying levels of support to 60 innovative businesses over 3 years, including in-depth consultancy, access to labs, experimental design, data analysis and regulatory and commercial advice.

Leveraging CPI’s facilities and deep expertise, MaID will provide end-to-end support for businesses and organisations seeking to de-risk and accelerate microbiome and phage therapeutics to market.

It will build on the city region’s existing strengths in microbiome innovation, including the University’s Microbiome Innovation Centre (MIC) and Centre for Genomic Research and will use CPI’s expertise to help innovators de-risk and scale up.

Professor Jo Fothergill, Director of the University of Liverpool’s Microbiome Innovation Centre, said:- “At the University we are already exploring academic and industrial capabilities in microbiome science. This latest funding and the launch of MaID, allows us to build momentum and further strengthen Liverpool’s position as a thriving hub for life sciences innovation. We are also delighted to be enhancing our already longstanding relationship with CPI and look forward to making the City region a global leader in this field.”

Dr Arun Harish, Chief Strategy Officer at CPI, said:- “Microbiome innovation has the potential to revolutionise how we tackle some of the world’s most pressing health challenges, from antimicrobial resistance to mental health. The MaID hub represents a significant step forward in connecting scientific discovery to real-world applications. By combining the expertise of CPI and the University of Liverpool, we’re proud to support the Liverpool City Region in becoming a global leader in microbiome innovation, empowering local businesses to thrive in a market set to be worth billions.”

MaID is among the 1st of 20 Life Sciences Innovation Zone projects that are expected to create 8,000 new jobs and attract up to £800m investment to the Liverpool City Region over the next 10 years.

The Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Innovation Zone Programme forms part of the Government’s national Investment Zone Programme, positioning the city region as a powerhouse for health and life sciences innovation.