About us
Accelerating the development of gene therapies into life-changing treatments for patients.
A centre of excellence
The University of Sheffield is internationally renowned for its world-class neurodegenerative research. With state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment, a clinical database of over 2,000 patients and a large resource of human biosamples and brain-bank material generously donated by patients, we have earned our place as one of the leading players in gene therapy research and innovation.
In partnership with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the National Institute for Health Research Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre, our world-class team is driving experimental science into international clinical trials in order to combat devastating neurodegenerative diseases and transform millions of lives.
The Gene Therapy Innovation and Manufacturing Centre (GTIMC) builds on, and expands, our existing expertise, facilities and networks. We’re already making a difference to the lives of many patients and their families. With the addition of the GTIMC, we can do even more.
Accelerating the development of treatments for patients
The GTIMC will dramatically broaden the scope of gene therapy research in the UK. We bring together academic institutions, NHS trusts, non-profit and industry partners to translate scientific discoveries into new and exciting treatments for patients, faster.
The GTIMC includes a state-of-the-art Good Manufacturing Process (GMP) facility to produce clinical grade adeno-associated viruses (AAVs). These AAVs will support gene therapy projects emerging from UK universities, as well as provide material for clinical trials at NHS sites. The GTIMC provides all the necessary quality assurance, regulatory certification and governance for human trials at Advanced Therapies Treatment Centres (ATTC) and NHS trusts.
We’re also providing extensive training to ensure the UK has the skills needed to advance further discoveries. We offer a MSc course in advanced therapies, and we’re establishing a PhD programme.
Part of a national and international network of gene therapy innovation
The GTIMC is one of three national Innovation Hubs for Gene Therapies funded by the Medical Research Council and LifeArc, with support from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. The three hubs are located at King’s College London (in partnership with University College London and the Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust), NHS Blood and Transplant in Bristol and the University of Sheffield.
The GTIMC works in collaboration with the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, an organisation set up to catalyse and facilitate growth in the cell and gene therapy industry. The Catapult helps research into gene therapies to be safer, more effective, scaleable, and affordable.
The director of the GTIMC, Professor Mimoun Azzouz, is also a coordinator within ARDAT (Accelerating Research & Development for Advanced Therapies), a consortium of 34 international partners from academia and industry. ARDAT's aim is to develop and provide tools that will advance knowledge in the field of viral gene/cell therapy and accelerate the development of new treatments for rare diseases.
We are proud to work in collaboration with our partners to seek new opportunities to further enhance our translational research. By working together we believe we can find novel solutions to the biggest rare disease challenges and help to change lives.
