The Advanced Therapies Facility (ATF) at the University of Birmingham is comprised of three synergistic units with the prime objective of facilitating high quality translational research.
The Human Biomaterials Resource Centre is an ethically approved, HTA licensed human sample biorepository offering sample collection, processing, storage and analytical service, located on the ground floor of the ATF building. The Cell Therapy Suite is located on the first floor, and manufactures cell- and tissue-based therapies. The Microbiome Treatment Centre is dedicated to the production of Faecal Microbiota Transplants and is situated in a GMP compliant production laboratory external to the main ATF building.
Advanced Therapies Facility
The purpose-built ATF building was opened in 2011. It was funded largely through the Advantage West Midlands Science City Translational Medicine Programme, with investment from University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, the University of Birmingham, and the MRC.
All three units within the ATF are exceptionally well-equipped and staffed with knowledgeable and experienced teams. Effective working relationships with many NHS Partners enables access to large, ethnically diverse and well-characterised patient cohorts across the West Midlands, as well as to a vast range of clinical and pathology expertise. The close proximity to the NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility and experienced Clinical Trials Units within the University means the ATF is extremely well placed to facilitate the set up and delivery of clinical trials designed to improve patient treatments.
The ATF works under a common Quality Management System in order to achieve the quality and ethical standards required to maintain compliance with the MHRA and HTA regulatory licences covering the facility, to comply with the regulatory standards surrounding the delivery of clinical trials, and to quality assure the services it delivers.
- MHRA Manufacturer’s “Specials” Licence MS 21761
- MHRA Manufacturer’s Authorisation – Investigational Medicinal Products MIA(IMP) 21761
- HTA application licence 22672
- HTA research licence 12358
- Research Tissue Bank ethical approval 20/NW/0001
The ATF works with academic and commercial biomedical research groups both within the UK and overseas.
The Microbiome Treatment Centre has set up a specialised clinical service for UK hospitals through the provision of Faecal Microbiome Treatment material for the treatment of patients with recurrent and refractory C.difficile infection.
As part of the Midlands-Wales Advanced Therapies Treatment Centre, the Cell Therapy Suite works with many organisations, from providers of manufacturing equipment and materials, through to logistics partners and NHS clinical research centres.