BIA update – 16 February 2026
It’s been an energising week across the UK life sciences landscape, marked by major investment, important conversations and new opportunities for our community.
From the opening of a FUJIFILM’s biomanufacturing facility in the north-east, to key discussions on women’s health, access to health data, animal research and rare disease advocacy, the momentum across the sector continues to build.
Jane Wall
Managing Director, BIA
Our new-look policy influence report
Policy and public affairs are key USPs of BIA, but with such breadth and depth of influence, it is often challenging to succinctly capture the impact. Today sees the launch of our new-look BIA influence report, Lab bench to front bench, your new monthly window into how BIA is shaping the UK policy environment. The first edition kicked off with our most recent engagement with Government and Parliament and a reflection on last year.
Each month, our Policy and Public Affairs team will showcase how we are championing members’ voices in Government and Parliament. We’ll also put a spotlight on an area where our work is moving the dial and flag what’s coming up next in the policy world. If you want to know how biotech priorities are landing with ministers, MPs and officials, and how BIA is translating your insights into policy influence – this is the place.
FUJIFILM Biotechnologies Teesside site opening
We were exceptionally proud to be present at the opening of FUJIFILM Biotechnologies’ grand opening of its expanded Teesside site on Wednesday. The significantly expanded presence includes the opening of the largest single-use biopharmaceutical CDMO facility in the UK.
This facility is not just an investment from FUJIFILM, it is a vote of confidence for the UK, showcasing the north-east as a place to build and scale globally competitive capability. This site delivers cutting‑edge technology, high‑value jobs and long‑term vision, demonstrating the country’s potential to leverage its talent, scientific excellence and industrial base to lead in advanced biomanufacturing
BIA Chair Shaun Grady spoke at the event:
The best illustration of UK potential is right here, in this facility. This site represents cutting‑edge technology, high‑value jobs and long‑term vision. The north-east is full of exceptional talent and FUJIFILM expanding in the area is testament to this. The UK has the science, the skills and the spirit. With partners like Fujifilm, we have the opportunity to turn that into world‑leading biomanufacturing.
Women’s health roundtable
The day coincided with the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and I was honoured to have been a part of a roundtable with the Milken Institute and Jill Biden, discussing their new Women’s Health Network. The event was also attended by CEOs and investors from the BIA community amongst others – hallmarked by inspirational stories from female entrepreneurs, notably Lea Wenger, CEO and Founder at Cyclana Bio, and women’s health champion Dame Lesley Regan.
Women being under-researched and under-served by our health systems is thankfully getting some attention, and it’s great to see the Milken’s initiative. In my blog from Thursday, I highlighted that whilst more investment in women’s health is of critical importance, female leadership in the space is also key. At BIA we are measuring this, but the latest numbers are a big reality check. We’ll be tackling the challenges at Women in Biotech in Cambridge on 5 March. Make sure you sign up and join us.
Welcome news on access to health data
Data for health research has been a central push for our policy team, so we welcome the news that Government has granted access to half a million UK Biobank participants' coded GP data. This has been a long time coming and will be much appreciated across the life science and medical research sectors. Huge congratulations to the team at UK Biobank for pushing through with this, as well as those across Government, NHS England and Department of Health and Social Care. BIA has strong representation on industry groups of UK Biobank and Our Future Health, notably Steve Gardiner, Chair of BIA’s Data, AI and Genomics Advisory Committee.
Up until now, consented cohort studies, such as UK Biobank, have only been able to access data from hospital inpatient, cancer and death records to identify health outcomes. Having the GP data will double the number of recorded cases of some health conditions and enable researchers to investigate disease across the full spectrum of disease severity.
Connecting our members with the NIHR
On Tuesday, we hosted a roundtable with members and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) on shaping the funder’s future strategy for SMEs. We were joined by the NIHR’s newly appointed Life Sciences Industry Hub Director, Maria Koufali.
The forum gave our scaling SME member companies an opportunity to engage with NIHR on the key opportunities and challenges for the UK’s commercial clinical trial environment, directly shaping the NIHR’s strategy for supporting commercial clinical trials in the process. It was an in-depth discussion tackling some of the core sticking points – with a strong focus on site selection and incentivisation, streamlining processes and delivery.
Animal research webinar: 3Rs in action
Animal research was on the agenda in our very timely "3Rs in action: bridging the gap between policy and practice” webinar last Tuesday. Virtual attendees were treated to a well-informed and forward-looking discussion on ethical research as the foundation of scientific excellence. Panellists made the case that the 3Rs approach of “replace, reduce and refine” is a useful framework for the sector and the webinar featured insights from the NC3Rs and real-world case studies from CN Bio and AstraZeneca on how to implement these strategies within a global R&D framework. If you missed it, you can re-watch the webinar.
Parliamentary reception on rare disease
On Monday, it was a privilege to be amongst the rare disease community at a parliamentary afternoon reception formally celebrating the launch of BIA’s report From innovation to impact: unlocking patient access to innovative rare disease medicines. The reception was hosted by Liz Twist, MP for Blaydon and former Chair of the APPG for Rare, Genetic and Undiagnosed Conditions. Other speakers included: Kylie Bromley, General Manager at Biogen and Chair of BIA’s Rare Disease Industry Group (RDIG); Julian Beach, Interim Executive Director, Healthcare Quality and Access at MHRA; and Rebecca Torricelli, Stories Officer and Patient Representative at Muscular Dystrophy UK. Rebecca shared her personal story, bringing home the importance of a more comprehensive view of the ‘value’ of access to innovative treatments. The event saw over 80 UK rare disease experts and stakeholders, including parliamentarians, patient advocacy groups, clinical representatives and industry leaders.
BIA members invited to FCDO reception next Monday
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) are hosting a one health networking reception with Latin American government representatives on 23 February in Victoria House at 6.30pm-8.30pm – BIA members are invited to meet this senior delegation. The focus is 'one health' and includes topics around food security, antimicrobial resistance and vaccines.
The event will gather government officials from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and the UK, the private sector and representatives from academia to explore collaboration opportunities and share best practices – RSVP today!
