Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC) has been selected to lead the first UK office of the Association of Academic Health Centers International (AAHCI), a global body that works to enhance healthcare research, education and clinical services for the benefit of patients and populations.

MAHSC (the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre) is a partnership between The University of Manchester - ranked one of the top three UK research universities (RAE 2008) - and six NHS organisations, including  some of the most highly rated NHS Trusts in the country.

Peter Noble, Chief Operating Officer for MAHSC, explained: "The benefit of hosting the UK office is in bringing together some of the country's finest experts in medicine, research and higher education to build on our nation's reputation as a world leader in those fields, as well as working collaboratively to meet the challenges that face us.

"The Manchester office is the UK pilot site for the AAHCI, which has its headquarters in Washington DC. Manchester will head-up collaborations between world-leading institutes across the UK to ensure the latest discoveries in science are harnessed to improve patient care and health outcomes nationally and across the world."

MAHSC was originally designated an academic health science centre (AHSC) by the Department of Health in 2009 - a quality stamp that marks Manchester out as a centre of international excellence in research, education and healthcare. It is one of only six AHSCs in England and the sole AHSC outside of the South East.

As part of its work with the AAHCI, MAHSC will form an advisory group with the leaders of other AHSCs, including Professor Dermot Kelleher, Chairman of the Joint Executive Committee at Imperial Academic Health Science Centre in London; and Professor Alistair Buchan, Head of the Oxford Academic Health Science Centre.

Peter Noble added: "As the UK leader for the AAHCI, MAHSC will endeavour to build strong relationships with AHSCs across the country to share knowledge as well as influence government policy for the greatest benefit to our patients and population in order to provide world-class healthcare within the NHS at a sustainable cost."

"Through the AAHCI, MAHSC is also strengthening its ties to 38 health and research institutions across over 20 countries - relationships that will be invaluable to Manchester and to the UK as a whole as the increasing mobility of our populations makes public health a global issue that knows no borders."

For information on how Manchester's Conference Ambassador Programme can help you to attract national and international conferences in your own field of research, please contact Anthony Cassidy on 0161 238 4509 or email: anthony.cassidy@visitmanchester.com.