Therapeutics innovation

Our Therapeutics innovation research theme draws on our world-leading expertise across fundamental biochemistry and cell biology, pharmacology and therapeutics, multiomics, biomedical engineering, health data science and psychology, in combination with world-class clinical trials facilities and ready access to clinical samples and biobanks.

Working across clinical and non-clinical areas, in close partnership with the NHS, industry, and other stakeholders, including our patient populations, we aim to develop medicines more efficiently, embed advanced treatments into routine clinical care, and develop policies that direct treatment for the most impact on human health and animal welfare.

Key aims

Better therapeutics (making medicines better)

The drug discovery pipeline is complex. Late-stage failures often cost the pharmaceutical industry billions. Failures also often mean that commercial interest wanes, leaving clinical need unmet. One reason is that animal models do not readily translate into human targets and disease. Ideally target discovery should be in humans, with experimental studies supporting mechanisms. To overcome this bottleneck, we've developed and are delivering scalable mechanisms for drug target discovery, aligning with a cross-Faculty University Research Frontier in Therapeutics Innovation.
Better targeting (using medicines better)

We're enhancing the use of existing therapeutics and building on our expertise in drug safety, understanding the mechanisms of drug toxicity and extending beyond liver toxicity and immunotoxicity. Already home to a unique resource for clinicians to reduce drug-drug interactions, we're expanding the ability to more safely use medicines through a pharmacogenomics approach.
Enhanced clinical relevance

Our programme of making and using medicines better will have direct clinical impact in the short and longer term, regionally, nationally and internationally. We're directing our efforts into clinical translation through clinical trials. We focus on unmet need and improving the health of people within the Liverpool City Region, demonstrating how this can be effectively implemented into policy, but also into a global vision.

Centres of Excellence

Centre for Experimental Therapeutics (TherEx)

Improving health and wellbeing by optimising the use of existing drugs and accelerating the development of new treatments.

Centre of Excellence for Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT)

Broadening our understanding of long-acting medicines to better understand how they can be of most benefit.

Liverpool Clinical Trials Centre (LCTC)

LCTC is a leading UK clinical trials unit and methodological research group, improving lives through the design and delivery of world class clinical trials.

Case studies

Development of the first effective therapy for the rare disease Alkaptonuria

Our researchers developed the first effective pharmacological treatment option for Alkaptonuria, a rare hereditary metabolic disease that causes severe early-onset osteoarthritis.

Improving drug-drug interactions management with digital prescribing tools

The Liverpool Drug Interactions Group has developed specialised online prescribing tools for identifying and managing drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in patients with HIV, hepatitis and COVID-19.

Podcast: Fostering closer collaboration between academia and industry across health and life sciences

The University of Liverpool's Therapeutics Innovation Frontier will streamline collaboration and better support the next generation of scientists.