New State-of-the-Art Liverpool Facility Set to Supercharge Northern Arc Growth – Powering the Economy and Creating Jobs 

Plans underway for GMP-compliant facility to accelerate research into advanced cell and gene therapies, including CAR T-cell treatments 

Liverpool, UK, 25 September 2025 – BioGrad today unveiled plans for a new Centre of Bio-Manufacturing Excellence in the Liverpool City Region. Work on the centre will begin by the end of the year and is set to position the North of England as a leader in advanced cell and gene therapies and bio-manufacturing. 

The state-of-the-art, GMP-compliant facility will: 

• Create high-value, entry level and professional jobs and attract international investment. 

• Accelerate research into cutting-edge cell and gene therapies, including CAR T-cell treatments. 

• Fuel the bioeconomy by attracting new businesses, clusters, and building skills pipelines. 

• Bring potentially life-saving treatments closer to patients across the North, reducing the need to travel to the South or overseas and aligning with NHS priorities to expand access to advanced therapies. 

With the North of England historically receiving less than half the life science investment made in the South¹, the new Centre of Bio-Manufacturing Excellence will channel new investment into the North, strengthening the region’s position as a leading national innovator for advanced therapies. 

BioGrad hosted a workshop on Tuesday 23^rd September at Dale House, Wavertree Technology Park, Liverpool, where scientists, clinicians, business leaders, politicians and policymakers discussed growth priorities for the centre. The panel included Dr Natalie Kenny, CEO of BioGrad, Professor Janet Hemmingway, Founding Director, iiCON, Dr Damian Kelly Vice President of Innovation & Technology Development, Croda, and Dr Muhammad Saif Director of the BMT Programme, Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. 

During the workshop, participants: 

• Voiced overwhelming support for the City Region to become a bio- manufacturing superpower 

• Strengthened the business case for the Centre of Bio-Manufacturing Excellence 

• Agreed to work collaboratively to take the project forwards 

“The Centre of Bio-Manufacturing Excellence development is underway now and is a landmark opportunity for Liverpool and the North of England,” said Dr Natalie Kenny, CEO of BioGrad Group. “It will create high value jobs, attract new investment and ensure people here have access to advanced therapies. Our workshop brought together leading scientists, clinicians, business leaders, and policymakers to set the priorities that will shape the centre’s future and help establish Liverpool as a true bio-manufacturing superpower.” 

The centre builds on the success of BRITE, the cross-sector partnership funded by Research England’s University Commercialisation Ecosystem fund, expanding facilities, investment opportunities and skills to secure the Liverpool City Region’s place at the heart of the UK’s advanced cell therapy sector. 

Work on the new centre, in collaboration with the Sameer Group who are represented in the UK by EGP UK, will be underway by the end of the year. Jobs created directly and indirectly through this centre will contribute towards the Liverpool city region’s health and life sciences Growth Plan² which aims to create 8,000 jobs over the next 10 years, while attracting new bio-manufacturing businesses and investors to the region, ultimately driving the growth of the North of England’s bioeconomy. 

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

BioGrad  
Dave Panther 
E: dave.panther@biograd.co.uk 
T: +44 (0)151 245 2469 

Sciad Communications 
Simran Purewal / Maria Taylor 
E: press@sciad.com 
T: +44 (0)2034 057892 

Notes for editors

About BioGrad 
BioGrad is a leading UK-based biotech company with a strong foundation in clinical trials and biobanking. The company is now developing a UK bio-manufacturing hub for the production of advanced cell therapies, including stem cell and CAR-T cell treatments for a range of diseases. 

Our mission is clear: To accelerate medical breakthroughs and deliver transformative therapies to those who need them most. 

1. North of England receives less than half the life science investment made in South, reveals IPPR. The Institute for Public Policy Research. Available at: https://www.ippr.org/media-office/north-of-england-receives-less-than-half-the-life-science-investment-made-in-south-reveals-ippr Accessed: September 2025 
2. Mayor Rotheram welcomes new Life Sciences Sector Plan to grow economy and transform NHS. Available at: https://www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/news/mayor-rotheram-welcomes-new-life-sciences-sector-plan-to-grow-economy-and-transform-nhs Accessed September 2025