New opportunities to improve the measurement and treatment of respiratory diseases will be explored when healthcare and medical experts gather at The Glenfield Hospital, Leicester on Wednesday 1st September at the meeting of the East Midlands Respiratory Special Interest Group.

The event is being organised by the Healthcare and Bioscience iNet in partnership with the universities of Leicester and Nottingham, and will enable businesses with an interest in respiratory medicine to meet academic and clinical leaders in respiratory scientific research.

As part of the Respiratory Science Collaboration (RSC) East Midlands initiative, companies interested in developing new products and devices can learn how they can work alongside university researchers, making use of the laboratory facilities and the technical know-how of the scientists. The Healthcare and Bioscience iNet advisers will also be there to guide the companies on all aspects of commercialisation from intellectual property protection and legal contracts to marketing and raising finance. Given the increased rate admissions for asthma and COPD to hospitals in the region, there is a pressing need to find new solutions in treatment and care.

Andrew Wardlaw, Professor of Allergy and Respiratory Medicine at the University of Leicester and co-lead PI on RSC East Midlands said: "We want this region to be a world-beater in respiratory medicine. Both universities are already strong in the sector and we recognise the advantages of pooling our research base and expertise. By enhancing our clinical performance we are able to offer specialist expertise and new knowledge to East Midlands companies to help them innovate and grow. We hope to generate many new products and therapies as a result of the collaboration." 

Healthcare and Bioscience iNet director Dr Ian Barr said: "When it comes to respiratory medicine, Leicester and Nottingham are already top-class institutions and this new partnership should put them right up with the world's leaders. The new arrangements also promise to make it easier for companies to embark on tomorrow's innovations in a more assured way".

The event coincides with the official opening by University of Leicester vice-chancellor Professor Sir Robert Burgess of the new bronchoscopy and laboratory facilities in the Glenfield Respiratory Science Department. This is due to take place at 12 noon. A total of £1.8million was raised for the new laboratories in Leicester and Nottingham.

This meeting is part of an extensive programme of sector events organised by the Healthcare and Bioscience iNet, which is funded by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).