Tony Blair and William Hague issue joint report on using biotech to deliver better health care.
They propose a new NHS Data Trust, a biotech laboratory, reforms to venture capital and listing regimes.
They also propose a new biosecurity taskforce.
Tony Blair and William Hague have co-authored a new report, “A New National Purpose: Leading the Biotech Revolution”, urging the government to seize the opportunities of the tech revolution to deliver better health care through a fresh approach to patient data, a new lab to spur innovation and reforms to unlock private capital.
In a wide-ranging report, the former Labour Prime Minister and Conservative Leader set out how new breakthroughs in biotech promise an era of more effective health care, through personalised treatments of diseases and drug discoveries, while boosting economic growth.
Britain is often seen as a leader in biotechnology. Recently, UK regulators became the first in the world to approve gene editing for treating sickle cell disease, while Cambridge scientists have created new microbes with the potential to develop new kinds of plastic.
But in their third joint paper, Blair and Hague warn that while the UK benefits from many early advantages in the sector, notably initiatives like the UK Biobank and Genomics England, the country risks being left behind on biotech by surging global competition.
They propose the creation of a new NHS Data Trust to allow anonymised health data to be shared with biotech researchers and companies, helping to turbocharge new medical breakthroughs while preserving patient privacy.
The trust would be owned and controlled by the NHS, in cooperation with trusted external partners, with a transparent governance model to keep patient data safe and secure, and ensure the trust’s operations align with public health objectives.
The report also calls for a new UK Laboratory of Biodesign, staffed with first-rate international biotech researchers, to develop new biotechnologies, and reforms to the UK’s venture capital and listing regimes to give UK biotech companies the capital to start up and scale up.
Alongside their recommendations for unlocking the potential of biotech, Blair and Hague also warn that advances in biotech can be used for harm as well as benefit, in particular advances in genetic engineering and new AI tools for biology.
To deal with emerging risks, they call for a new taskforce to focus on preventing the next pandemic, along with strong regulation to prevent the misuse of DNA printing machines and upgrading of lab safety measures to prevent the escape of dangerous viruses.
In the foreword they say: “We both believe that whether Britain can establish a leading position in science and innovation will be the single most important determinant of our future prosperity, and therefore of the jobs, living standards and security of British people.”
Tony Blair, Executive Chairman of TBI and former Prime Minister said:
“The future of Britain is at an inflection point – we need to use the science and technology revolution to reimagine how government works, how it innovates, operates and delivers better and more personalised public services and generates economic growth. We have pioneering institutions and scientists, but we need to become more competitive if we are to lead the world in biotech and not be left behind. This paper shows how we can do that.”
William Hague, former Foreign Secretary and Conservative Party Leader, said:
“Accelerated by new breakthroughs, artificial intelligence and the availability of data, biotech is offering a future with new cures and treatments for many diseases. Just as the UK is positioning itself to maximise the benefits and minimise the risks of AI, we must redouble our efforts to lead in synthetic biology. The age of biotech has begun – we haven’t a moment to lose in making the most of it.”
Benedict Macon-Cooney, Chief Policy Strategist at the Tony Blair Institute, said:
“To thrive in the 21st century, the UK needs to be faster and more strategic in mastering and harnessing the tech revolution. A failure to do so will fundamentally impact our economic competitiveness. This starts with reimagining the state. But as our latest New National Purpose report sets out, Britain can shape the wave of new biotechnologies, and deliver the better-quality health care and opportunities for growth that our country needs.”