Protecting the public’s health – strengthening the Health Protection Agency’s role

15 September 2008

The addition of NIBSC will broaden the Agency's remit to protect the public's health. The role of NIBSC is to protect public health through supporting the safe development and use of biological medicines such as vaccines, products made from blood and tissues.

NIBSC is internationally renowned for its broad-based and vibrant research programme and will present an overview of current projects at the Health Protection Agency's annual conference. Topics include: 'Controlling medicines: keeping them safe and effective', 'Old medicines, new problems,' 'Influenza vaccines: racing against time' and 'UK stem cell bank: preparing for a new generation of cell-based therapies'.

NIBSC has developed the UK Stem Cell Bank - the first of its kind in the world - to support the safe, effective and ethical development of stem cell therapy.  Stem cells are the body's master cells, with the potential to become many different types of tissue. Stem cell research could provide new and novel ways to repair and replace diseased and damaged body tissues for the future benefit of patients.

NIBSC produces almost all of the world's international standards for ensuring that biological medicines are safe and effective. It is also the UK's Official Medicines Control laboratory responsible for testing biological medicines produced by the pharmaceutical industry to make sure they are up to scratch.

Stephen Inglis said: "The merger with the Agency will create an organisation with a wider range of relevant scientific expertise, and a more co-ordinated approach to safeguarding public health.

"Our world class scientific experts are regularly called on when things go wrong with biological medicines, such as the severe adverse events that followed the trial of an experimental drug at Northwick Park Hospital in 2006.

Justin McCracken, Chief Executive of the Health Protection Agency, said: "With the addition of NIBSC the Agency will extend its range of expert services. NIBSC has an excellent reputation which will be enhanced by inclusion within the Agency. For example it will complement the work the Agency currently does to prepare for pandemic influenza. NIBSC is one of only a handful of laboratories around the world with the capability to develop safe vaccine strains from potentially threatening virus strains such as H5N1."

The Agency's conference brings together more than a thousand health and scientific professionals, including leading experts from across the Agency, and from partner organisations.  It offers in depth presentations on the latest work in key areas of health protection, including vaccine preventable disease, health protection in the global village, cutting edge microbiology and community care acquired infection.

Ends

Notes for editors

1. The Health Protection Agency's Annual Conference takes place at the University of Warwick from Monday, 15 September 2008 - Wednesday, 17 September 2008. Further information can be found at the conference website at www.healthprotectionconference.org.uk
2. The Health Protection 2008 conference press office can be contacted between 9am - 5pm on 024 765 72982; out of hours on 0208 200 4400.
   
   

Last reviewed: 15 September 2008