£10m funding for AI-powered robotic labs that will accelerate new treatments for deadly infections

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New AI-powered, robotic labs that will accelerate development of new treatments for deadly diseases are to be built in Liverpool after £10m Innovation Zone funding was agreed.

The High Containment Level 3 labs, located at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) and supported by the Infection Innovation Consortium (iiCON), will be capable of handling a range of pathogens during development and validation of new treatments that could save lives worldwide.

The new laboratories will be fitted with state-of-the-art robotics, AI, and liquid handling systems to safely progress research and development of new vaccines, drugs and diagnostics for high-risk and deadly infectious diseases.

LSTM is already home to the largest concentration of Containment Level 3 laboratories in the North West, which played a key role in the rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new facility will also support the next phase of iiCON’s development, bolstering the infection innovation ecosystem between industry, academia, and the NHS to enhance the discovery and route to market for products that tackle infectious disease.

Find out more about the Life Sciences Innovation Zone in the city region.

The new laboratories will enhance innovative human organoid research, which involves sophisticated technologies using tissues grown to mimic different human organs. The facilities will enable closer collaborations with industry and potentially speed up regulatory approval for new treatments.

As well as saving lives, the robotic laboratories are forecast to generate £40m of investment in the first three years – creating well-paid jobs and driving research.

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said:

“Robotic labs might sound like something out of science fiction, but this is very much science fact – and a massive vote of confidence in our region’s position as a global leader in health innovation.

“We saw during the pandemic just how vital our local life sciences sector is—not just to our region, but to the world. This investment will build on that legacy, helping to fast-track life-saving treatments while attracting new businesses, creating high-quality jobs, and keeping our brightest minds here in the Liverpool City Region.

“This is what devolution is all about—backing our strengths, bringing in investment, and making sure we’re shaping a healthier, fairer, and more prosperous future for our area.”

Professor Giancarlo Biagini, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at LSTM said:

“LSTM is proud to receive this vital investment, which, alongside funding from UKRI’s Expanding Excellence in England (E3) fund and the Wolfson Foundation, enables us to establish a cutting-edge automated facility for developing advanced human infection models for emerging and high-consequence diseases.

“This combined £20m initiative will accelerate the preclinical development of new therapeutics, vaccines, and diagnostics – strengthening the UK’s position as a global leader in health innovation. This investment aligns with our regional commitment to driving health innovation and regional prosperity, ensuring that the Liverpool City Region remains at the forefront of health science innovation and impact.”

Professor Janet Hemingway, founding director of iiCON, said:

“iiCON is delighted to support this transformative initiative. By harnessing iiCON’s extensive network of industry, academic, and clinical partners, we will ensure this cutting-edge facility is maximised to drive innovation and ultimately improve health outcomes.

“This investment strengthens Liverpool City Region’s position as a global hub for infection innovation and reinforces our commitment to fostering impactful collaborations, supporting SMEs, and creating high-value jobs. Through iiCON’s specialist research platforms and translational expertise, we will work closely with partners to unlock the full potential of this facility, ensuring it delivers real-world impact for patients, communities, and the wider economy.”

Combined Authority Cabinet Member for Innovation, Cllr Liam Robinson said:

“iiCON is a superstar of Liverpool City Region innovation – helping to save countless lives through its world-leading fight to control and prevent deadly infections.

“This hi-tech investment through our health and life sciences innovation zone programme promises to speed up the discovery of new treatments which will drive jobs and prosperity in the city region, while making the world a safer place.

“It will also further cement the city region’s status as a global leader in the fight against some of the world’s deadliest infections.”

Founded in 2020 with an £18.6m Government grant, iiCON has quickly grown into a £260m programme working with a global network of more than 1,000 organisations, creating hundreds of jobs and bolstering the city region’s R&D infection spend by £1bn.

By enabling industry access to world-leading facilities and expertise, it has supported 36 new products to market, with more than 5 billion units of life saving products and treatments reaching communities across the world.

iiCON’s ambitious new lab project forms part of the 10-year Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Innovation Zone programme which is expected to attract up to £800m of public and private investment and create 8,000 new skilled jobs to the region.

Read the Life Sciences Innovation Zone prospectus.

The Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Innovation Zone Programme (LCR Innovation Zone Programme) is part of the Government’s national Investment Zone Programme.

New initiative seeks locals with business ideas to tackle health and care challenges

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A groundbreaking initiative to tackle health and care inequalities in Liverpool City Region (LCR) communities launches today. Citizen First LCR will put power firmly in the hands of those with experience of health and care challenges on the ground.

Applications are now open to find eight inspiring LCR residents with a powerful business idea that tackles the health and care issues facing them and their communities. To remove barriers, they will receive a year’s Real Living Wage salary, seed funding, and comprehensive support, including a dedicated business advisor and cutting-edge tech support from the University of Liverpool.

Citizen First LCR is part of the University of Liverpool’s Civic HealthTech Innovation Zone (CHI-Zone), funded by the Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Innovation Zone Programme, and brings Public Life’s Citizen Incubator model to Liverpool for the first time. The model involves recruiting inspiring local people through a CV-less process and giving them a full-time salary and 12 months of leading support to turn their innovative ideas into businesses that tackle the social issues affecting them and their communities. Citizen First LCR is co-funded by the Fusion21 Foundation, the registered charity of national social enterprise Fusion21 Ltd, which specialises in efficient and impactful public sector procurement and delivers visible social value. It is also funded and supported by local housing associations Torus Foundation, Riverside, and Livv Housing Group.

Selected Citizen First LCR residents will benefit from the CHI-Zone’s expertise in health and care-tech development, gaining access to academic and technical support from the University of Liverpool. This hands-on approach means the successful applicants will be working on the ground from day one —applying data, AI, and technology to their business ideas while engaging directly with customers and communities. As their business model develops there will be opportunities to test assumptions with potential buyers, build the brand, integrate technology into their solution, and connect with investors. By the end of the year, it’s hoped they will secure investment to take the next big step in their venture.

The project delivery partners are looking for inspiring business ideas that offer new ways to tackle health and care challenges rooted in the experience of local communities. Recruitment will be completely CV-less with a focus on lived experience and entrepreneurial drive, not qualifications or work history. Neither do applicants need to be tech-savvy from the outset.

Recruitment is open from Wednesday 2 April to Sunday 4 May 2025 – events will be held in-person across the Liverpool City Region and online for those who would welcome an opportunity to meet the Citizen First team. Further information about the programme and how to apply can be found on the Public Life website at www.publiclife.org.uk/citizenfirst.

Professor Iain Buchan, W.H. Duncan Chair in Public Health Systems, Associate Pro Vice Chancellor for Innovation, and Director of Civic Health Innovation Labs (CHIL) said:

“CHI-Zone will mobilise data, technology, and deep collaboration with our residents to drive health and care innovations. We will support hidden entrepreneurs from local communities to pioneer solutions to challenges they’ve encountered with healthcare, social care or general health and wellbeing. Our entrepreneurs will have access to scientists, engineers, health and care experts, and established industry partners. This civic approach is core to our University’s work in breaking new ground in science and technology while responding to our communities’ needs. Those needs include the opportunities afforded by a thriving life science and digital economy in Liverpool City Region.”

James Green, CEO and Founder of Public Life, said:

“Liverpool City Region communities are full of inspiring residents with innovative ideas and the passion to drive change that comes from their own experiences. Yet, without financial security and the right opportunity, many are held back from becoming the entrepreneurs we all need if we are to tackle important health and care challenges impacting local people. Citizen First LCR is on a mission to change that.”

Jo Hannan, Head of Fusion21 Foundation said:

“Citizen First LCR is a game-changing opportunity that removes financial barriers and provides the right support for local innovators to turn their ideas into impactful outcomes. Our Foundation is proud to support a programme that puts power back into the hands of communities and fosters real, lasting change in health and care.”

Councillor Liam Robinson, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Cabinet Member for innovation, said:

“We know that local people know their own areas best and are bursting with creative ideas about how to solve issues in their communities.  We’re delighted to support Citizen First LCR which will enable people with extraordinary and innovative ideas to make a huge difference to their local area.”

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.