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¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Partners, Europe's largest academic health science partnership, has reached the Department of Health's shortlist of organisations seeking official status as an 'academic health science centre'.

¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Partners, which was created last year, comprises ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust; and ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Together, ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Partners will support over 3,500 scientists, senior researchers and consultants, with a combined annual turnover of around two billion. By pooling resources and expertise, ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Partners will be able to produce more world-class research in key areas, including cancer and heart disease, and deliver the benefits more rapidly to patients in London, and around the world.

A final decision as to which organisations will be granted official 'academic health science centre' status will be made in early March.

Sir Cyril Chantler, Chairman of ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Partners, said: "Making it on to the shortlist is a boost for our efforts to create Europe's leading health research powerhouse. ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Partners has the potential to transform healthcare for Londoners, to enhance training for medical students and to undertake groundbreaking research that will benefit patients here and around the world."