MFT Research and Innovation

What MFT Research and Innovation does

MFT Research and Innovation is the research and innovation division of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), the largest NHS trust in the UK. The division operates clinical research infrastructure across MFT's ten hospitals and community services — including Manchester Royal Infirmary, Wythenshawe, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Saint Mary's, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, North Manchester General Hospital, Trafford Hospitals, and the University Dental Hospital — serving a catchment of more than one million patients per year. It hosts NIHR-designated facilities (Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester Clinical Research Facility, Manchester BioResource Centre, and the NIHR Centre for Precision Approaches to Combatting Antimicrobial Resistance) along with the Biobank and Cellular Pathology Research Service, the Manchester Clinical Data Science Unit, the Diagnostics and Technology Accelerator (DiTA), the Innovative Technology Adoption Programme (iTap), and Vocal, a not-for-profit patient and public involvement service.

The division's product surface spans research delivery, translational infrastructure, and innovation adoption. Core services include MHRA-accredited Phase I and gene-modified trial governance (via the Early Phase Safety Committee), HTA-licensed biosample storage, statistical support, research contracts and quality assurance, clinical photography, and meeting/event facilities at the Nowgen Centre. Innovation programmes (DiTA, iTap, Innovation District, SME Toolkit, IP and Innovation Management Service) are designed to accelerate MedTech and diagnostic adoption across the NHS, with notable collaborations including Medtronic (September 2025) and the Generation Study with Genomics England and NHS England (launched November 2024).

As an NHS Foundation Trust research division, MFT R&I does not sell to end customers; it is funded through NIHR grants, commercial clinical trial income, European research awards, and charitable foundations (Breast Cancer Now, Prevent Breast Cancer, Wellcome Trust engagement). Strategic positioning is built on the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC) partnership with the University of Manchester, Health Innovation Manchester, and Greater Manchester NHS Trusts, framing the entity as a clinical translation and adoption platform rather than a commercial vendor.

Name

MFT Research and Innovation

Legal name

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Website

https://research.cmft.nhs.uk

Company type

Public

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MFT Research and Innovation is the research division of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, the UK's largest NHS trust. It delivers clinical research, translational infrastructure, and innovation adoption across ten hospitals, serving over one million patients annually through NIHR-supported facilities and university partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clinical Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Medical Laboratories (621511)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

National Public Health Reference Laboratories (HLAJAIAA)

Keywords

• Clinical research services
• Biomedical research
• Clinical trial delivery
• Patient engagement programs
• Healthcare innovation

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

MFT Research and Innovation is the clinical research division of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), the largest NHS trust in the UK. It delivers clinical trials, biomedical research, biobanking, and patient/public engagement services across ten hospitals and community services serving over one million patients annually. The division operates NIHR-funded research centres (Biomedical Research Centre, Clinical Research Facility, BioResource Centre), MHRA-accredited Phase I trial capabilities, and innovation adoption programmes in partnership with The University of Manchester.

Product overview

MFT Research and Innovation operates as a comprehensive NHS research infrastructure spanning ten hospitals and community services, serving over one million patients annually. The portfolio includes multiple NIHR-supported research centres (Biomedical Research Centre, Clinical Research Facility, BioResource Centre), core services (Biobank, Statistics Support, Research Office), patient engagement (Vocal), and innovation accelerators (DiTA, iTap, SME Toolkit). The division combines clinical research delivery with innovation adoption programmes to translate scientific discoveries into patient treatments more quickly.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre

Quantifiable outcome

• 22% reduction in late-stage lung cancer diagnosis through community screening programme
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MedtroniccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Partnership to accelerate MedTech innovations across the NHS, announced September 2025. Focused on bringing medical technology innovations to NHS patients more quickly.
• The University of ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary academic partner conducting joint research across multiple clinical specialties. Combined through Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC), one of only five AHSCs in England, to interconnect research activity and generate health benefits, economic development, enterprise, innovation and wealth creation.
• National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body providing research funding, infrastructure support, and access to national portfolio studies. Supports NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility, and NIHR Manchester BioResource Centre located within MFT.
• Health Innovation ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional innovation body driving adoption of health technologies across Greater Manchester, working to accelerate innovation into clinical practice.
• NHS Trusts in Greater ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative network of NHS organisations across Greater Manchester working together on research through MAHSC and other joint initiatives.
• Genomics EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for national newborn genomic screening study (Generation Study) led by Genomics England in partnership with NHS England to identify rare genetic conditions.
• Greater Manchester Cancer AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint organisation delivering community-based lung cancer screening programme that has demonstrated significant reduction in late-stage diagnosis.
• Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in lung cancer screening programme supporting the jointly organised screening initiative.
• Breast Cancer NowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable funder supporting breast cancer prevention research conducted at Manchester Breast Centre.
• Prevent Breast CancerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable organisation based at the Nightingale Centre, Europe's first purpose-built breast cancer prevention centre at Wythenshawe Hospital.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust: GSTT hosts significant NIHR research infrastructure and is part of King's Health Partners AHSC. Closely comparable as an NHS trust with comprehensive biomedical research, clinical trial delivery, and innovation adoption programmes across multiple hospital sites.
• Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Cambridge's NHS trust hosts an NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and Clinical Research Facility and is one of five AHSCs in England. Directly comparable as a leading UK NHS trust with embedded translational research infrastructure serving a major academic partner (University of Cambridge).
• Barts Health NHS Trust: Barts Health is the largest NHS trust in London with multiple hospital sites and an active research division partnered with Queen Mary University of London. Comparable as a multi-site NHS trust with embedded clinical research and academic partnerships.
• Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust: Imperial hosts NIHR research infrastructure and is part of the Imperial College AHSC. Comparable as a London-based NHS trust with strong translational research, multi-hospital structure, and industry-sponsored clinical trial activity.
• King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust: King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners AHSC and conducts substantial clinical research across multiple specialties. Comparable as an NHS trust with strong academic-clinical integration and a diverse research portfolio.
• University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: UCLH operates major NIHR-funded research facilities and is part of the UCLPartners AHSC. Directly comparable as a London NHS trust with deep clinical research integration and a top-tier university partnership driving first-in-human and early-phase trials.
• Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: OUH is part of the Oxford AHSC and hosts major NIHR-funded research facilities including BRC and CRF. Directly comparable as one of five AHSC NHS trusts with a flagship university partnership and early-phase trial capabilities.
• Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Newcastle Hospitals hosts NIHR-funded research infrastructure and is closely partnered with Newcastle University. Comparable as a leading UK NHS trust outside the Golden Triangle with strong translational research and rare disease expertise.

Broad incumbents

• Genomics England: Government-owned company running the 100,000 Genomes Project and the Generation Study in which MFT R&I participates. Comparable as a national genomics research platform with overlapping patient cohorts and translational objectives.

Others

• National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR): The primary UK government funder of clinical research and operator of the Clinical Research Network. Not a direct peer but the dominant ecosystem participant that funds and channels research infrastructure across all NIHR Biomedical Research Centres and Clinical Research Facilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MFT_Research
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLMLo0FsBVlPkIiHbKduYseGeRr8GVlsNx
• Facebookfacebook.com/MFTnhs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mft-research-and-innovation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MFT Research and Innovation