David Kidney’s blog: January 2024
A BETTER FUTURE
A BETTER FUTURE FOR THE ROSALIND FRANKLIN LABORATORY
The Rosalind Franklin Laboratory in Leamington Spa closed in January last year having processed about 8.5 million Covid-19 tests during the pandemic. Now the mothballed coronavirus mega lab has appeared for sale on Rightmove.
MPs on the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee have expressed surprise and shock about the sale. They say Government Ministers should use the facility, which has received more than £1bn in public funding, to research bacteria-killing viruses known as phages. It is thought phages, a harmless-to-humans virus that infects bacteria, could be used to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR). You can find all the details about the Committee’s report here.
The MPs say the Rosalind Franklin Laboratory should be used to combat antibiotic resistance. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said its future was being explored while ensuring the best value for taxpayers’ money.
In 2022 I had discussions with Rob Howes, who managed the Rosalind Franklin Laboratory for UKHSA at that time. I suggested that we could incorporate the Laboratory into the West Midlands HealthTech ecosystem.
I put forward three suggested uses for the facilities, which could all be pursued in tandem and all three uses could be complementary, namely:
- A Government Laboratory for research purposes and forming a foundation for ramping up testing in the event of a future pandemic;
- Training space for offering training in laboratory skills and etiquette to public and private workforces on a commercial basis; and
- Laboratory Units for private sector users, who would benefit from their close proximity to the other two facilities.
This all fitted with a parallel set of discussions I had had with the Vaccine Taskforce’s Legacy team, which at the time was keen to ensure that the lessons around lack of preparedness at the beginning of the Covid pandemic should be learned to protect the UK more effectively in the event of future pandemics – and maintaining some capacity, which could be ramped up at very short notice, was a key feature.
In my discussions with Rob Howes, I suggested that the Government Laboratory could become a member of the Cluster, offer some office space for the Cluster Organisation’s use, and be an anchor organisation in the West Midlands HealthTech sector. Unfortunately, nothing came of my ideas. Instead, the interaction between me and Rob suddenly ceased without any explanation, and I no longer received any communication from UKSHA about future uses of the Rosalind Franklin Laboratory.
I share the Committee’s disappointment about the news of the Rosalind Franklin Laboratory being offered for sale. Even at this late stage, if there is anything we can do at the Cluster to assist UKHSA to devise a set of constructive uses of the Laboratory, I would be happy to help.
David Kidney, Executive Chair
26 January 2024.