Financial support of £10 million directed towards AI-driven robotic laboratories, aimed at expediting research and development in life-threatening infection treatments.
Article Title: Liverpool to Lead the Way in Infectious Disease Research with AI-Powered Robotic Labs
The Liverpool City Region is set to revolutionize infectious disease research with the establishment of AI-powered, robotic labs at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). This groundbreaking project, announced in April 2025, received a significant £10 million investment [1].
Funding and Partnerships
The initiative, led by LSTM, a key institution in tropical and infectious disease research, is expected to attract up to 800 million GBP of public and private investment as part of the Life Sciences Innovation Zone programme [2]. The new facilities will be supported by the Infection Innovation Consortium (iiCON), a collaboration that has already bolstered the city region's R&D infection spend by 1 billion GBP.
Impact and Purpose
The robotic labs will leverage AI and robotics to accelerate the development of new treatments for fatal infectious diseases. By reducing the time needed to identify and test new therapeutic approaches against high-mortality diseases, these labs aim to significantly speed up the treatment development pipeline [1]. The technology allows for high-precision and scalable studies of complex biological processes related to infection and immunity, surpassing traditional lab methods.
The new facility will support the next phase of iiCON's development, which has already resulted in 36 new products reaching the market. Furthermore, it is forecast to generate 40 million GBP of investment in the first three years.
Job Creation and Economic Impact
The investment is expected to create well-paid jobs, contributing to the Life Sciences Innovation Zone programme's goal of creating 8,000 new skilled jobs in the region. Previously, iiCON has created hundreds of jobs in the Liverpool City Region.
LSTM already houses the largest concentration of Containment Level 3 laboratories in the North West, which played a crucial role in the rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new labs will be fitted with state-of-the-art robotics, AI, and liquid handling systems, enabling closer collaborations with industry and potentially speeding up regulatory approval for new treatments.
The 10-year Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Innovation Zone programme, in which this project is a part, reinforces its commitment to fostering impactful collaborations and creating high-value jobs. With the establishment of these AI-powered robotic labs, Liverpool is set to take a leading role in the global fight against infectious diseases.
[1] Source: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) press release, April 2025. [2] Source: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority press release, May 2022.
- The AI-powered robotic labs in Liverpool will not only contribute to the advancement of digital health, but also foster collaborations in the field of science and technology, aiming to develop new treatments for medical-conditions related to infectious diseases.
- The significant £10 million investment in the Life Sciences Innovation Zone programme anticipates substantial economic growth, with a projected generation of 40 million GBP in the first three years and the creation of 8,000 new, well-paid jobs, further supporting the health-and-wellness and finance sectors.
- Leveraging the latest advancements in AI and robotics, the new facilities will focus on the research and development of treatments for infectious diseases, aiming to streamline the process of regulatory approval in collaboration with the finance and technology industries, ultimately benefiting public health worldwide.
